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The work by McKinsey and Claridge referenced in the essay on glass production by Geoff Landis was stimulated by modest funding I provided McKinsey in the late 1970s. McKinsey directed projects at UCLA to produce test glasses from lunar simulates. The projects resulted in two or more masters degrees.
I directed a four-year project on the production of industrial commodities from lunar materials (1976-79). One of the efforts was a three day workshop on the production of industrial quantities of glass from lunar materials. VPs of research from two large glass companies, researchers from the B. of Mines, and several academics and NASA people participated. References are provided below.
Criswell D. R. et al. 1978. "Extraterrestrial Materials Processing and Construction (Final Report)." Delivered to NASA-Johnson Space Center, available from the National Technical Information Service. Contract NSR-09-051-001 (Mod. 24). Lunar and Planetary Inst., Houston TX. 77058. 474 pp.
Criswell D. R. et al. 1980. "Extraterrestrial Materials Processing and Construction (Final Report)." Delivered to NASA. Available National Technical Information Service. Contract NSR-09-051-001 (Mod. #24). Lunar and Planetary Inst., Houston, TX. 77058. 1119 pp.
I believe the reports can still be obtained from the National Technical Information Service.
Shorter overview papers are in the following references.
Waldron, R. D. and D. R. Criswell. 1982. Processing of Lunar Materials. In CRC Handbook on Space Industrialization, ed. B. O'Leary. 1: 94-130. Boca Raton, FL. Criswell, D. R. and D. R. Waldron. 1982. Lunar Utilization. In CRC Handbook on Space Industrialization., ed B. O'Leary. 2: 1-53. Boca Raton, FL.
Waldron, R. D., T. E. Erstfeld, and D. R. Criswell. 1979. The Role of Chemical Engineering in Space Manufacturing. Chemical Engineering (12 February): 82-94. Translated into Chinese. 1979 American Industrial Report, (September) Issue No. 37: 26-43. (in #63.)
These studies convinced me that production of the glass commodity components for the proposed Lunar Solar Power System (see attachment) is reasonable.
The production of high precision mirrors for X-ray astronomy, that Gorenstein wished to explore, will require more advanced production technology than considered in the above studies.
I hope these references are of interest. Email or call if your wish to discuss the topic.
Best wishes
Dave Criswell
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