IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i17p13227-d1232305.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Chemical Engineering beyond Earth: Astrochemical Engineering in the Space Age

Author

Listed:
  • Vassilis J. Inglezakis

    (Department of Chemical & Process Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XQ, UK)

  • Donald Rapp

    (Independent Researcher, South Pasadena, CA 91030, USA)

  • Panos Razis

    (Faculty of Pure and Applied Science, Department of Physics, University of Cyprus, 1st Panepistimiou Avenue, 2109 Aglantzia, P.O. Box 20537, Nicosia 1678, Cyprus)

  • Antonis A. Zorpas

    (Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Engineering Sustainability, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus, Giannou Kranitiodi 89, Nicosia 2236, Cyprus)

Abstract

The Space Race in the second half of the 20th century was primarily concerned with getting there and back. Gradually, technology and international collaboration opened new horizons, but human activity was mostly restricted around Earth’s orbit, while robotic missions were sent to solar system planets and moons. Now, nations and companies claim extraterrestrial resources and plans are in place to send humans and build bases on the Moon and Mars. Exploration and discovery are likely to be followed by exploitation and settlement. History suggests that the next step is the development of space industry. The new industrial revolution will take place in space. Chemical engineers have been educated for more than a century on designing processes adapted to the Earth’s conditions, involving a range of raw materials, atmospheric pressure, ambient temperature, solar radiation, and 1-g. In space, the raw materials differ, and the unique pressure, temperature and solar radiation conditions require new approaches and methods. In the era of space exploration, a new educational concept for chemical engineers is necessary to prepare them for playing key roles in space. To this end, we introduce Astrochemical Engineering as an advanced postgraduate course and we propose a 2-year 120 ECTS MEng curriculum with a brief description of the modules and learning outcomes. The first year includes topics such as low-gravity process engineering, cryogenics, and recycling systems. The second year includes the utilization of planetary resources and materials for space resources. The course culminates in an individual design project and comprises two specializations: Process Engineering and Space Science. The course will equip engineers and scientists with the necessary knowledge for the development of advanced processes and industrial ecologies based on closed self-sustained systems. These can be applied on Earth to help reinvent sustainability and mitigate the numerous challenges humanity faces.

Suggested Citation

  • Vassilis J. Inglezakis & Donald Rapp & Panos Razis & Antonis A. Zorpas, 2023. "Chemical Engineering beyond Earth: Astrochemical Engineering in the Space Age," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-12, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:17:p:13227-:d:1232305
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/17/13227/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/17/13227/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Elisa Chaleta & Margarida Saraiva & Fátima Leal & Isabel Fialho & António Borralho, 2021. "Higher Education and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)—Potential Contribution of the Undergraduate Courses of the School of Social Sciences of the University of Évora," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-10, February.
    2. Syed Mithun Ali & Andrea Appolloni & Fausto Cavallaro & Idiano D’Adamo & Assunta Di Vaio & Francesco Ferella & Massimo Gastaldi & Muhammad Ikram & Nallapaneni Manoj Kumar & Michael Alan Martin & Abdul, 2023. "Development Goals towards Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-11, June.
    3. Idiano D’Adamo & Massimo Gastaldi, 2023. "Perspectives and Challenges on Sustainability: Drivers, Opportunities and Policy Implications in Universities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-6, February.
    4. Elli Doukanari & Despo Ktoridou & Leonidas Efthymiou & Epaminondas Epaminonda, 2021. "The Quest for Sustainable Teaching Praxis: Opportunities and Challenges of Multidisciplinary and Multicultural Teamwork," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-21, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Samuel Chukwudi Agunyai & Lere Amusan, 2023. "Implications of Land Grabbing and Resource Curse for Sustainable Development Goal 2 in Africa: Can Globalization Be Blamed?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Odeh Al-Jayyousi & Hira Amin & Hiba Ali Al-Saudi & Amjaad Aljassas & Evren Tok, 2023. "Mission-Oriented Innovation Policy for Sustainable Development: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-21, August.
    3. Siti Fardaniah Abdul Aziz & Norashikin Hussein & Nor Azilah Husin & Muhamad Ariff Ibrahim, 2022. "Trainers’ Characteristics Affecting Online Training Effectiveness: A Pre-Experiment among Students in a Malaysian Secondary School," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-24, September.
    4. Catalina Cruz-Piedrahita & Francisco-Javier Martinez-Carranza & Maria Mar Delgado-Serrano, 2024. "A Multidimensional Approach to Understanding Food Deserts in Vulnerable Contexts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-19, January.
    5. Syed Mithun Ali & Andrea Appolloni & Fausto Cavallaro & Idiano D’Adamo & Assunta Di Vaio & Francesco Ferella & Massimo Gastaldi & Muhammad Ikram & Nallapaneni Manoj Kumar & Michael Alan Martin & Abdul, 2023. "Development Goals towards Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-11, June.
    6. Ingi Runar Edvardsson & Johanna Gardarsdottir, 2023. "Navigating Uncharted Waters: Exploring Leaders’ Challenges in the Era of COVID-19 and the Rise of Telework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-24, November.
    7. Mark Elder & Elli Newman, 2023. "Monitoring G20 Countries’ SDG Implementation Policies and Budgets Reported in Their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-27, November.
    8. J. N. Chandra Sekhar & Bullarao Domathoti & Ernesto D. R. Santibanez Gonzalez, 2023. "Prediction of Battery Remaining Useful Life Using Machine Learning Algorithms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-28, October.
    9. Andra-Teodora Gorski & Elena-Diana Ranf & Dorel Badea & Elisabeta-Emilia Halmaghi & Hortensia Gorski, 2023. "Education for Sustainability—Some Bibliometric Insights," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-17, October.
    10. Nursel Aydıntuğ Myrvang & Gamze Sart & Marina Danilina & Mohammad A. Ta’Amnha, 2023. "Impact of Market-Oriented Business Environment and ICT on Sustainable Development: Panel Evidence from the New EU Member States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-14, September.
    11. Ernesto D. R. Santibanez Gonzalez & Vinay Kandpal & Marcio Machado & Mauro Luiz Martens & Sushobhan Majumdar, 2023. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Circular Economies through Sustainable Smart Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-22, November.
    12. Theresa Rubhara & James Gaffey & Gavin Hunt & Fionnuala Murphy & Kevin O’Connor & Enda Buckley & Luis Alejandro Vergara, 2024. "A Business Case for Climate Neutrality in Pasture-Based Dairy Production Systems in Ireland: Evidence from Farm Zero C," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-18, January.
    13. Jia Shen & Xiaohong Ren & Zhitao Feng, 2024. "Study on the Railway Effect of the Coordinated Development of the Economy and Environment in the Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Circle," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-16, April.
    14. Leyla Yılmaz Fındık & Şefika Şule Erçetin, 2023. "How Do Universities in Türkiye Integrate Sustainable Development Goals into Their Strategies?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-16, December.
    15. Love Kumar & Ramna Kumari & Avinash Kumar & Imran Aziz Tunio & Claudio Sassanelli, 2023. "Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring in Pakistan: A Comprehensive Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-38, April.
    16. Yanhua Chang & Yi Liang, 2023. "Intelligent Risk Assessment of Ecological Agriculture Projects from a Vision of Low Carbon," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-21, March.
    17. Marzena Smol & Paulina Marcinek & Joanna Duda, 2024. "Circular Business Models (CBMs) in Environmental Management—Analysis of Definitions, Typologies and Methods of Creation in Organizations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-25, January.
    18. Maria Tomai & Shyama V. Ramani & George Papachristos, 2024. "How Can We Design Policy Better? Frameworks and Approaches for Sustainability Transitions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-22, January.
    19. Jina Kim & Seungmin Jee & Seunghan Ro, 2023. "Do Public-Led Housing Site Development Projects Affect Local Housing Prices: A Proposal for a Comprehensive Policy Evaluation Methodology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-27, December.
    20. Maximilian Tallgauer & Christoph Schank, 2023. "Rethinking Economics Education for Sustainable Development: A Posthumanist Practice Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-14, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:17:p:13227-:d:1232305. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.