As technologies evolve for use in space, understanding their environmental impact becomes just as important as optimizing performance. At ESRIC, one of the work packages I lead focuses on applying Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to early-stage processes and technologies related to space resource utilization. This work is carried out in close collaboration with the SUSTAIN group at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST).
While LCA is well established for Earth-based systems, applying it to off-Earth activities requires a shift in methodology. We are often dealing with technologies that are still in development, materials that are being simulated or replicated in analogues, and missions that are yet to be launched. Despite these uncertainties, it is crucial to assess potential environmental and systemic impacts from the very beginning.
In this work package, I proposed and now coordinate research aimed at adapting LCA frameworks to the unique challenges of in-situ resource utilization. This includes:
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Scenario-based modelling of ISRU operations using regolith simulants,
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Estimating energy demand, mass constraints, and processing routes under lunar conditions,
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Integrating launch and transportation phases into the broader life cycle,
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And helping research teams frame design choices with sustainability metrics in mind.
By embedding life cycle thinking early in the development of ISRU technologies, we can inform better decisions, avoid lock-in to unsustainable designs, and strengthen the link between space innovation and planetary responsibility.
This effort supports ESRIC’s broader mission of developing space resource technologies that are not only functional, but also environmentally and systemically resilient.
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