As humanity sets its sights on the exploration and colonisation of other planets and celestial bodies, the concept of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) has emerged as a cornerstone of sustainable space exploration. ISRU refers to the practice of collecting, processing, and using resources found at a mission destination — rather than transporting everything from Earth.
Why the Lunar South Pole?
The lunar south pole represents the most compelling ISRU target in the inner solar system. Permanently shadowed craters in this region are believed to harbour water ice, deposited over billions of years by cometary impacts. Water ice is invaluable: it can be electrolysed into hydrogen and oxygen, providing propellant for future spacecraft and breathable air for habitats.
ORBITBeyond's OB-1 mission is specifically designed to access this region — delivering scientific instruments and ISRU technology demonstrators to the exact locations where resources are most likely to exist.
Surface Infrastructure as Enabler
ISRU is not just about what's in the ground — it's about having the infrastructure to process and use those resources once found. ORBITBeyond's surface services, including Power-as-a-Service (700 W), Data-as-a-Service (2 Mbps X-Band), and Mobility-as-a-Service, provide the operational backbone that ISRU payloads need to function on the lunar surface.
Continuous power through the lunar day — and survival through the 14-day lunar night via our Tec Masters partnership — means ISRU systems can operate continuously rather than being limited to a single lunar day.
Commercial ISRU Opportunities
The commercial implications of lunar ISRU are significant. Propellant produced on the Moon could dramatically reduce the cost of deep space missions by eliminating the need to launch propellant from Earth's gravity well. A single tonne of water ice processed into propellant on the lunar surface has a value equivalent to many times its equivalent launched from Earth.
ORBITBeyond is actively working with ISRU technology developers to integrate demonstrations on OB-1. If your organisation is developing ISRU technologies, we invite you to contact our mission planning team.