NASA and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) are hosting an invitational workshop intended to inform the development of new technologies to detect and assess off-world mineral resources, as well as to identify alignments with advanced terrestrial applications.
Topics that will be covered in the meeting include:
- Observation and capability gaps that hinder mineral resource detection and assessment.
- Technology needs that can help meet the goals of NASA’s Artemis efforts.
Tuesday, April 11 Schedule:
08:15-08:30 Welcome and Introductions: Dave Korsmeyer, Deputy Center Director for Research and Technology, NASA Ames
Laying the Groundwork for a New Space Economy using Off-World Resources (MC: Stock)
08:30-08:45 Alexander Macdonald, NASA: Agency Perspectives on the Potential of Space Resources
08:45-09:00 Sarah Ryker, USGS: National Critical Minerals Strategy
09:00-09:15 Doug Hollet, DOE/INL: National Energy Needs for Critical Minerals and the Future of Mining
Observation needs for mineral detection and assessment on Earth (MC: Williams)
09:15-09:30 Marina Costelloe, Geoscience Australia: Exploring for the Future – Off World Exploration
09:30-09:45 Colin Williams, USGS: USGS Mineral Resource Perspectives
09:45-10:00 Darcy McPhee, USGS: USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative
10:00-10:15 Break
Lunar observation gaps (MC: Jennifer Heldman)
10:15-10:30 Laszlo Kestay, USGS: Lunar or planetary observation gaps
10:30-10:45 Julie Kleinhenz, NASA: Observations gaps from an ISRU perspective
10:45-11:00 Jennifer Heldman, NASA: Lunar resource observation gaps
11:00-11:15 Kevin Cannon, Colorado School of Mines: Models for Off-World ice distribution
11:15-11:30 Blair DeWitt, Lunar Station: Models for Off-World ice distribution
11:30-12:30 Lunch break, onsite
Laying the Groundwork for a New Space Economy using Off-World Resources (Cont.) (MC: Rasky)
12:30-13:00 Bhavya Lal, NASA: Agency Strategy for off World Resources
Enabling technology needs for mineral detection and assessment (MC: Stock)
13:00-13:15 Amy Gartman, USGS: Marine mineral resource observation gaps
13:15-13:30 Robert Woodcock, CSIRO: EASI, a high-performance data analytics platform designed for resource modeling and analysis
13:30-13:45 Burke Minsley, USGS: Geophysical techniques
13:45-14:00 Graham Mackintosh: AI/ML and Geospatial tools to improve interpretation of data
14:00-14:15 Break
A look ahead at emerging technology applications (MC: Stock)
14:15-14:30 Michelle Keegan, AROSE: Exploring New Frontiers: Re-thinking Resource Development
14:30-14:45 Michael Biercuk, Q-CTRL: Quantum sensors
14:45-15:00 Matthew Pearson, Fleet Space: Scalable Exploration Tools for Earth and Space
15:00-15:15 Mahta Moghaddam, USC: GPR tomography
15:15-15:30 Dave Alfano, NASA: Autonomy
15:30-15:45 Samuel Forbes, Fugro: Role of Concepts of Operation in Exploration
15:45-16:00 Break
16:00-16:15 Introduction to Breakout Groups (Stock)
Goal of Breakouts: Write down in table form the observation and capability gaps in sufficient detail that we can identify specific technologies or technology improvements needed to close them.
16:15-17:15 Breakout 1: Defining observation gaps using ore body spatial and concentration requirements (Leads: Callum Walters, Michelle Keegan)
16:15-17:15 Breakout 2: Defining enabling technology needs-AI/ML, Platforms and autonomy (Leads: Graham Mackintosh, Dave Alfano)
17:15-17:45 Oral presentations from Breakouts
17:45-19:00 Social at The Ameswell Hotel, 800 Moffett Blvd, Mountain View, CA 94043
