Tenorio Discusses Moon Mining at Lunar Development Conference

MGE professor of practice Victor Tenorio recently spoke at the virtual 2020 Lunar Development Conference about "a hands-on approach for starting mine operations" on the moon. Tenorio's subject, Luna Mine Planning, covered resources on the moon, potential mining sites, the advantages and difficulties of lunar mining, and a case study on the moon's South pole. The presentation was done in collaboration with MGE student Kerst Kingsbury. 

The Luna Mine Planning's vision for the future includes augmented reality, simulation training, autonomous systems, teleoperation and off-the-earth mineral production. Tenorio explained how mining on the moon can provide tangible resources, such as iron, titanium and water, as well as intangible ones, like solar power and micro gravity.

"In recent years, the University of Arizona has been contributing in many ways with the monitoring and landing of spacecrafts and probes," Tenorio said. "The good thing is that we can have collaboration with other departments. I foresee this as an integration of systems and industrial engineering, and perhaps mechanical and aerospace. There are very strong departments that are involved in many things together."