Planetary Construction 3D Printing Using Lunar and Martian In Situ Materials

Abstract

Through the Artemis program, NASA will extensively explore the Moon in preparation for the first human mission to Mars. NASA is planning to return to the Moon in the next few years, to establish a strategic presence at the Lunar south pole. To promote a long-term sustained presence, planetary surface construction technologies are needed to build a variety of supporting structures such as habitats, radiation shields, protective hangars, and launching and landing pads. Construction 3D printing (C3DP) is an autonomous construction technology that employs the principles of additive manufacturing on a structure scale. While C3DP has been mainly used for terrestrial construction, it is also considered a viable robotic construction technology for planetary infrastructure buildup. In this paper, the challenges and possibilities of extrusion-based planetary C3DP will be discussed in detail. Moreover, the results of an ongoing experimental study, as well as future research plans will be presented.