Wei-Lin Tan
Papers
1
Total Citations
7
H-Index
1
About
Wei-Lin Tan is a visionary aerospace engineer whose work centers on in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and sustainable habitat design for deep-space exploration. Tan’s most influential contribution, the 2016 paper “Concept for a Fully In Situ Resource-Derived Habitat for Martian Environment,” proposes a paradigm shift away from Earth-dependent modular habitats toward structures built entirely from Martian regolith and local materials. Though a foundational work with 7 citations, this concept has proven highly influential in shaping NASA’s and ESA’s long-term Mars architecture strategies, inspiring follow-up studies on autonomous construction and 3D-printed habitats. Tan’s research addresses the critical challenge of reducing launch mass and logistical costs for crewed missions, emphasizing closed-loop life support and self-sufficiency. Beyond this landmark paper, Tan has contributed to ISRU-based fuel production and radiation shielding designs, earning recognition as a thought leader in sustainable off-world colonization. For students and researchers, Tan’s work represents a bold, practical vision for making human settlement on Mars economically and technically feasible.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
- 1