Patent attributes
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. The cover and skirt arrangement generally comprises a skirt that extends from the cover to essentially seal against the surface of regolith to create a shielded environment to contain gaseous material from escaping into space. The skirt can be lowered on the regolith surface or dragged across and even made to conform to the surface. The gaseous material can be mined via a blade or excavation tool and heat source that liberates the gaseous material from the regolith.
