Importance

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Abstract

A vapor collection system that can be used at an extra-terrestrial body is envisioned to collect target gaseous atoms and molecules (material) floating around in a shielded environment at a pressure at or less than a bar. The shielded environment is defined within a cover and skirt arrangement that rests atop granular soil, which in one embodiment is regolith. It is advantageous for the regolith under the cover to be essentially devoid of loose rocks that would reduce mining efficacy and/or the cover from sealing against the regolith surface. Accordingly, certain embodiments envision mining the regolith with a zero tailings arrangement that uses a front plow to clear away loose rocks from where the cover will rest on the regolith and a redeposition blade to collect and redeposit the cleared away loose rocks behind the cover.

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First Claim