Additive Construction of Martian Habitats

摘要

NASA is stimulating development of the technology needed to build permanent Martian facilities, by providing cash prizes for competitors in a challenge to demonstrate appropriate means and methods of construction. Transportation costs and planetary atmospheric conditions exclude use of traditional terrestrial construction materials and human laborers. Using an additive construction process with indigenous and mission recycled materials, teams compete to design and construct a habitat. A detailed discussion of the various levels of material development and demonstration of construction methodology required by this contest is provided. Various potential concrete mix designs that maximize the use of indigenous Martian materials, and 3D printing techniques are described. Results of the early phases of the Challenge are presented and requirements for the final phases are provided.