How have minerals been used in the past to develop space technologies?
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Minerals have played a crucial role in developing space technologies. Silicate minerals like "Mg-Fe-Si-O" compounds found in asteroids and cosmic dust grains have been studied for their response to energetic ion irradiation, impacting mineral dust crystalline phases . Analyzing space minerals on Earth has been made possible through techniques like laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and Raman spectroscopy, aiding in real-time qualitative and quantitative mineral analysis . Research has focused on utilizing extraterrestrial raw materials for long-term human presence in space, with processes like regolith excavation, mineral processing, and oxygen extraction using metallurgical methods . Additionally, guiding devices have been applied to enhance aeration in quarries for mining ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, and mineral resources essential for astronautics and rocket engineering . Characterizing mineral deposits on asteroids through Remote Laser Evaporative Molecular Absorption (R-LEMA) spectroscopy could enable in-situ resource utilization for future space missions .
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30 Aug 2019 | Not addressed in the paper. |
22 Feb 2021 | The research paper discusses using guiding devices to enhance aeration in quarries for mining minerals like ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, and rare-earth elements for space industry applications. |
| Minerals have been utilized in space technology development through processes like regolith excavation, mineral processing, and extraction of oxygen and metal materials using innovative techniques like MOSARI. | |
| Not addressed in the paper. | |
| Not addressed in the paper. |
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