Janine E. Captain

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Janine E. Captain is a leading researcher in space resource utilization, with a primary focus on advancing in situ resource utilization (ISRU) technologies for human lunar exploration. Her most cited work, "Overcoming the Hurdles of Incorporating In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) into Human Lunar Exploration" (2010, 3 citations), critically examines the technical and programmatic challenges of extracting and using lunar resources—such as water ice and regolith—to sustain human presence on the Moon. Captain’s contributions are foundational in identifying key barriers to ISRU integration, including system reliability, energy demands, and mission architecture constraints, while proposing actionable pathways to overcome them. Her research directly supports NASA’s broader goals of extending human presence across the solar system, as outlined in the Vision for Space Exploration. Though her citation count is modest, her work is highly influential within the specialized ISRU community, shaping discussions on sustainable lunar outposts. Captain’s insights remain vital for students and researchers tackling the practical hurdles of turning space resources into life-supporting infrastructure, making her a key voice in the next era of human spaceflight.