Kiev. Ukraine. Ukraine Gate – December 27, 2020 – Science
One of the main problems facing the colonization of the Moon is the difficulty of delivering building blocks and equipment. NASA can be helped by ICON: it plans to print buildings on satellite from local materials.
ICON is known for its 3D printing project of houses in Texas and Mexico made of lavacrite, a mixture based on concrete. The lunar regolith is very different from what engineers are used to dealing with, but new technology is already being developed that will turn fragments and meteorite crumbs into a suitable material for construction.
It is known that the project, called Project Olympus, is being developed by ICON and NASA, and the current task is to obtain a solid concrete-like mixture for a 3D printer.
This means that you will not need to carry heavy structures or make multiple flights to deploy the lunar base. All you need is a 3D printer.
NASA officials say they plan to provide additional funding to ICON, but are not yet sure whether the lunar base will be built using such technology.
Experts believe that the development of new methods of 3D printing will improve the shortage of houses on Earth, as by 2020 more than 1.6 billion people need housing. Studies have shown that the use of 3D printers reduces costs by 60% and construction time by 80%.
