L2-ISR-TRANS ESSENTIAL RESOURCES Level 2 · hardware

Material Transport System

Regolith and Material Transport System

The regolith and material transport system consists of mechanical conveyors, hoppers, and augers designed to transfer excavated regolith and processed materials between mining and processing facilities. Because the lunar vacuum precludes pneumatic transport, material handling relies entirely on mechanical systems such as screw conveyors, bucket drums, and vibration-assisted gravity chutes that prevent bridging and rat-holing under 1/6 g. Operating over a 100-year design lifetime presents severe mechanical challenges: highly abrasive regolith causes rapid wear across conveyor surfaces, electrostatically charged dust penetrates unsealed bearings and mechanisms, and low gravity reduces vehicle traction while altering granular settling behaviors during transit.

Conveyors, hoppers, and pneumatic transport moving material from mine to processing

Purpose

Transport excavated regolith and processed materials between mining and processing sites

Context

Component of L1-ISR within the Lunar Ark system

Principles

▸Bucket wheel or auger conveyance moves granular material in vacuum
▸Pneumatic transport not available without atmosphere - must use mechanical means
▸Gravity-assisted hopper and chute systems exploit 1/6g for material flow
▸Vibration-assisted flow prevents bridging and rat-holing in hoppers

Typical implementations

▸NASA RASSOR (Regolith Advanced Surface Systems Operations Robot) bucket drum design
▸Mining industry conveyor belt systems (adapted for vacuum)
▸Screw conveyors for granular material transport
▸Lunar regolith simulant handling systems at research facilities

Lunar considerations

▸Abrasive regolith causes rapid wear on conveyor and auger components
▸Fine dust penetrates bearings and mechanisms without proper sealing
▸1/6g reduces material settling but also reduces traction for transport vehicles
▸Electrostatic charging of moving regolith creates dust contamination challenges