The invention of Wrocław University of Science and Technology (Wrocław Tech) and Four Point Sp. z o.o., called 'Centrifugal separator impeller and method of sieving of bulk materials in centrifugal separator' developed in order to sieve bulk materials under microgravity conditions, was recently licensed to the US company Astroport Space Technologies as a dedicated lunar regolith sorting technology.

The cooperation with Astroport is carried out within the framework of the project „Lunar Surface Site Preparation for Landing/Launch Pad and Blast Shield Construction” contracted for NASA.

The main goal of the project is to develop Lunar Launch and Landing Pads (LLPs) using the Moon's regolith. This project is a pioneering effort to build a robust infrastructure essential for sustained lunar operations, including transport, resource extraction, and potential industrial activity. One of the key to this effort is the integration of regolith sorting and a specialized sorting station, vital steps in transforming raw lunar material into practical building resources for the LLPs.

The process begins with the excavation of the regolith and its conveyance to the sorting station, where the material undergoes separation according to the particle size. Fine particles are sieved for brick production, integral to Astroport’s Lunatron® BrickLayer technology, which autonomously melts, shapes, and places regolith bricks.

Coarse particles serve as structural underlayments or are filled into "RegoPACTM" bags to stabilize protective berms around the landing pads. The Wrocław Tech and Four Point Invention supports the entire process. It allows for screening/separation without transfer media, e.g. water, air, gravity, which works very well in lunar conditions. The invention - optimizes resource utilization, producing material tailored for specific construction needs, and supporting other in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) activities, like oxygen extraction and metal production, essential for long-term human presence on the Moon.

The LLP architecture enables safer landings by reducing high-velocity ejecta, and the entire system operates through autonomous robotics, from excavation to placement. By capitalizing on on-site lunar materials, this approach not only minimizes the need for Earth-supplied resources, but also establishes a foundational economy on the Moon, facilitating sustained exploration and commercial activities.

The licensed invention (patent application PCT/PL2023/050070) presents the core IP for the sorting device which is under development by the team from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (dr hab. inż. Damian Pietrusiak - leader, dr hab. inż. Przemysław Moczko, dr inż. Jakub Wróbel) in cooperation with Wrocław company Four Point.

The licensing process is supported by the Wroclaw Centre for Technology Transfer (WCTT) of WUST (dr inż. Tomasz Marciniszyn). Technology offer for Invention in the link.