2:30pm EST., Friday February 16th

Presenting Live via Zoom

In-Situ Resource Utilization

The first step in establishing a sustained human presence in the galaxy is utilizing the resources that are locally available. Both the moon and Mars contain vast deposits of ice, frozen underground. This ice can be excavated, filtered, and split into hydrogen and oxygen. By producing water, oxygen, and pressurized liquid oxygen (a typical rocket propellant) we can support life on other planetary bodies as well as significantly drive down the cost per kilogram to transport objects to deep space.

Mihir Gondhalekar is the Co-Founder of Starpath Robotics, a company focused on mining and refining water on the Moon and Mars to produce rocket propellant. He holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan. At Starpath, he is involved in the development of lunar mining machines and technologies for processing resources in the extreme conditions of the lunar South Pole.