in-situ resource utilization

In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) is the practice of using materials found directly on a space body—like the Moon, Mars, or asteroids—to support exploration and future missions. Instead of bringing everything from Earth, ISRU involves extracting and processing local resources, such as water, minerals, or gases, to produce essentials like water, oxygen, fuel, and building materials. This approach reduces the need for costly deliveries from Earth, making space missions more sustainable and efficient. Essentially, ISRU leverages the environment of other celestial bodies to support human activities beyond Earth.