Kimiya Komurasaki

Professor, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, The University of Tokyo
Research Interest: Electric Propulsion, Beamed Energy Propulsion, and Laser Aluminum reduction

Speech Title：Aluminum mining on the Moon for Mars rocket fuel

Abstract：
In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) is a key aspect to establish a sustainable station on the Moon and to propel a space vehicle to Mars. Metals available on the Moon can be used as a fuel for rocket propulsion as well as for lunar rover engines and generators on the Moon. Aluminum is the most energetic material among them. This study proposes a multi-stage laser processing for regolith beneficiation. As a preliminary step, we have irradiated the regolith simulants up to 2,800 K with a CW fiber laser and the ejected plume was recovered on a collection plate placed opposite to the simulants. A SEM/EDX analysis of the simulant's surface shows the deficiency of P, K, Na, and Si, and the collection plate showed the adhesion of such species along with oxygen, leaving Al2O3 in the molten regolith. As a second step, laser thermal reduction of Al2O3, which is more difficult than the oxides reduction mentioned above, has been challenged by means of laser ablation. As a result, a high-density precipitation of aluminum particles was observed both in the Al2O3 sample and on the collection plate.

Short Biography:
Kimiya Komurasaki received his Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1992 from the University of Tokyo, where he conducted research on Electric Propulsion. He then joined Nagoya University as an assistant professor and engaged in high enthalpy plasma flows research related to reentry physics. In 1998, he moved to the University of Tokyo, where he has been a professor since 2009 in the Departments of Advanced Energy and of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He is currently active in the areas of Electric Propulsion, Beamed Energy Propulsion, and Laser Aluminum reduction. He is a Fellow of the Japan Society of Aeronautical and Space Sciences (JSASS) and an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and serves as a Vice-President of JSASS in 2025.