Innovations for a lunar ISRU-industry

According to the article "How to Build Lunar Homes From Moon Dirt" ( www.space.com/businesstechnology/080903 ... -moon.html ) there is the idea to pump gas into the lunar soil to excavate regolith.

But what about the aspect that the gas pumped is lost then? what about the thought to cover the place where dust is excavated so that the gas can be recovered?

May be that initially this isn't possible but if the first excavation might be done so that beginning at the second the covering is possible the amoun t of lost gas might be reduced and optomized.

What about the method? What methods else are known, under development or thinkable?



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Poltical Economist)