In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) principles

In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) refers to the practice of using materials found at a space mission's destination, such as the Moon or Mars, to support the mission's needs. Instead of bringing everything from Earth, ISRU techniques extract water, gases, or building materials directly from the local environment. This approach reduces the amount of supplies launched from Earth, lowering costs and enabling longer-term exploration. For example, extracting oxygen from lunar regolith or water from Mars ice. ISRU is essential for sustainable space exploration, enabling humans to live and work off-Earth more efficiently.