M. Barmatz

California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Papers

Total Citations

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About

M. Barmatz is a pioneering researcher in planetary surface construction and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), with a focus on developing robotic systems for extraterrestrial habitats. Their most influential work centers on the Freeform Additive Construction System (FACS), a concept that leverages the highly articulated ATHLETE (All-Terrain Hex-Limbed Extra-Terrestrial Explorer) robotic platform to 3D print large-scale structures on the Moon and Mars using local regolith. This visionary approach, detailed in their 2013 paper (39 citations), effectively proposes "faxing structures to the Moon" by combining precision robotic positioning with various print head technologies. Barmatz further expanded on this in their 2016 work (18 citations), demonstrating ATHLETE’s versatility as a mobile ISRU and regolith construction platform capable of site preparation and tool-swapping. Their contributions are foundational to the field of off-world additive manufacturing, directly addressing the challenge of building sustainable human outposts beyond Earth. By integrating mobility, precision, and material processing, Barmatz’s research has shaped NASA’s vision for autonomous construction on planetary surfaces, inspiring future missions that turn local resources into habitable infrastructure.