The performance of terrestrial materials, tools and equipment has synergized over thousands of years. As the prospect of mining and construction in space increases mining and construction engineers are challenged to design and test technologies that will perform under conditions totally different from those on Earth. The Space Mining and Construction Laboratory (SMCL) at the University of New South Wales has been working on several research projects experimenting with new building methods and materials for space. Of course, sustainability in these extreme environments is critical as the supply of material, machinery, etc. from Earth is cost-prohibitive. The goal of every project is to design solutions that rely to over 95% on In-Situ Resources (ISRUs). The paper will present the ongoing experimental work in: a) lunar and asteroid mining, b) waterless concrete, and c) in-situ thermal energy storage.
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