LFLunarFoundry

Lunar resource infrastructure simulator

Model yield, power, and phases before you freeze the mission.

Turn regolith assumptions into power demand, yield estimates, equipment mass bands, and phased infrastructure—no paid APIs, no black-box “AI mining” claims.

Live simulation

Material yield

467

kg / month steady-state (modeled)

Annualized: 6 t/yr

Power demand

41kW plant equivalent

Includes thermal processing bias for selected chemistry route.

Reference cap in UI: 220 kW · not a site electrical one-line.

Launch mass avoided

29,141

kg Earth-equivalent over modeled processing window

Heuristic: in-situ product displaces packaged supply chain mass from Earth. Used for trade studies, not launch booking.

Feasibility score

85

0–100 blended model

Site suitability

Medium

Regional geology & access

Dust risk

Low

Ops & mechanical exposure

Infra complexity

76

Integration burden index

Mission economics

Modeled CAPEX

$194.7M

OPEX / yr

$16.3M

Break-even horizon

10.8 yrs

Figures are parametric envelopes for planning, not investment advice.

Infrastructure phase plan

  1. 0–6 mo

    Site survey & regolith characterization

    Traverse paths, volatile shadowing, PSD curves, and iron oxide fraction for reduction routes.

  2. 6–14 mo

    Pilot extraction skid

    Demonstrate molten regolith electrolysis at reduced duty with dust-tolerant seals.

  3. 14–26 mo

    Refining unit & metrology

    Product qualification loops, contamination budgets, and power-buffer commissioning.

  4. 26–36 mo

    Storage & logistics spine

    Cold traps / silo staging, rover interfaces, and night survival envelopes.

  5. 36–48 mo

    Construction feedstock export

    Glass/aggregate packaging for surface robotics and pressure-shell precursors.

  6. 48+ mo

    Scaled foundry line

    Continuous throughput under hybrid solar / fission baseload with redundancy blocks.

Risk matrix

CategoryLevel
Regolith / dustLow
Power duty cycleLow
Logistics couplingModerate
Process chemistryModerate
  • Regolith / dust: Manageable with beneficiation discipline and rover separation zones.
  • Power duty cycle: Buffer sizing aligns with selected architecture.
  • Logistics coupling: Small landed mass tightens spare ratios; favor modular skids and in-situ repair envelopes.
  • Process chemistry: Electrolytic routes increase crucible wear and sensor fouling versus mechanical flows.

Infrastructure requirements

  • Regolith intake rated for pilot plant (25–120 t landed) mass class with dust isolation airlocks
  • Molten regolith electrolysis train with thermal margins for hybrid solar / fission duty
  • Power backbone sized for ~41 kW continuous equivalent (buffered peaks)
  • In-situ assay lab: XRF / LIBS proxy stack for oxide fractions and glassy phase tracking
  • Logistics berms and robotic swap lanes to keep fines away from radiators and optics

Program summary

For Mare Imbrium mare, Oxygen via Molten regolith electrolysis at Pilot plant (25–120 t landed), LunarFoundry estimates ~467 kg/month steady-state (6 t/yr) with ~41 kW plant demand. Over 12 months, launch mass avoided is modeled at ~29,141 kg equivalent. Site suitability is Medium; dust risk is low.

Model: lunarfoundry-sim-2.0.0