2nd International Workshop on Space Geotechnics, Regolith, and Granular Materials

Understanding the subsurface is fundamental to future lunar and planetary operations. This area focuses on methods for characterizing regolith properties, mapping subsurface conditions, identifying resources and hazards, and reducing uncertainty before exploration, construction, and in situ resource utilization activities.

Planetary surface operations require reliable interaction with highly variable and incompletely characterized granular materials. This area examines excavation, grading, material transport, rover mobility, trafficability, dust mitigation, and other operational activities involving the handling and movement of regolith.

This area focuses on applying and extending geotechnical engineering principles for infrastructure in extraterrestrial environments. Particular emphasis will be placed on how reduced gravity, vacuum, thermal cycling, radiation exposure, and unique regolith properties influence engineering analysis, design methods, construction processes, and system performance.

Future lunar settlements will require infrastructure capable of operating reliably through prolonged environmental exposure and repeated mission activities. This area addresses infrastructure resilience, structural and geotechnical health monitoring, inspection, maintenance, repair, adaptive operations, and the long-term performance of foundations, landing areas, roads, berms, shelters, and other surface systems.

Sustained exploration will depend on using locally available resources to reduce reliance on Earth-based supply chains. This area focuses on resource prospecting, excavation, extraction, processing, manufacturing, and utilization, including the integration of ISRU systems with infrastructure development and the economic and operational considerations governing their deployment.

Advancing space geotechnics requires collaboration across disciplines and the development of shared terminology, test methods, engineering standards, educational pathways, and workforce capabilities. This area will bring together researchers, educators, students, agencies, and industry representatives to identify community needs, strengthen interdisciplinary partnerships, and establish priorities for future research and implementation.