Elspeth M. Petersen
Papers
1
Total Citations
1
H-Index
1
About
Elspeth M. Petersen is a pioneering space resources engineer whose work centers on in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) for lunar and planetary exploration. Her primary research focuses on molten regolith electrolysis (MRE), a transformative technology that extracts oxygen and metals directly from lunar soil using concentrated solar heating. Petersen’s most-cited paper, "Molten Regolith Electrolysis Using Concentrated Solar Heating" (2023), details a collaborative effort between Honeybee Robotics and NASA Kennedy Space Center’s SwampWorks Lab to design and build a technology development prototype. This work is critical to enabling sustainable human presence on the Moon, as it promises a reliable oxygen supply for Artemis missions while also producing metallic feedstocks for future construction. Though early in her career, Petersen’s contributions are already shaping NASA’s roadmap for lunar resource utilization. Her research bridges fundamental electrochemistry and practical engineering, addressing key challenges like high-temperature corrosion and energy efficiency. As a rising figure in space resource engineering, Petersen’s work holds the potential to drastically reduce mission costs and dependence on Earth-supplied materials, marking her as a key innovator in humanity’s expansion beyond Earth.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Molten Regolith Electrolysis Using Concentrated Solar Heating1 citations · 2023