3D Printer Could Transform Moon Dirt Into Lunar Base

For space scientists who dream of building a manned base on the moon, 3D printing with lunar dust is an attractive possibility. Such on-

Demand manufacturing will allow astronauts to repair damaged parts, make spare parts, and even build structures, all of which are dirt dug from under boots.

In a new study involving artificial moon dust, engineers have shown that the technology is about to become a reality.

10 pounds of simulated lunar dirt (or regolith)

At the same time, NASA officials contacted researchers at Washington State University and asked them to melt and parse fake moon rocks using 3D laser printing technology, which generates objects layer by layer based on computer models.

This analog is an expensive combination of silicon, aluminum, calcium, iron, magnesium oxide.

This powder material is intended to simulate the properties of the rock base found on the moon and has particle structures similar to ceramics.

Due to the easy cracking of ceramics, it is difficult to operate using a 3D printer.

But WSU researchers, including husbandsand-

Amit Bandyopadhyay and Susmita Bose's wife team have previously proven the ceramics

Just like the material can be re

Form with on

On-Demand processing plant to createcustom-

Made a bone scaffold.

For this new study, the researchers fed the original analog powder into a 3D printer, heated the material to high temperature and printed it out in a smooth halfmillimeter (0. 02 inches)

Layer, forming a small cylindrical shape without visible cracks.

In a study detailing recent experiments in the journal rapid prototyping, the researchers explained that the structure produced by the printer is almost as hard as the typical soda lime glass. [

Cool moon discovery

'It doesn't look great, but what you can do from it,' Bandyopadhyay said in a statement . '.

Bandyopadhyay says additives for moon dust such as titanium can produce stronger objects.

But he highlighted this in a phone interview with SPACE.

Com believes the technology is still in its first phase.

The purpose of the study is to show that the concept only works with lunar dust.

While building alunar habitatout from the surface of the moon may be a distant possibility, Bandyopadhyay said that the tool to fix the broken seems to be the technology most in the near future

In addition to free production

Bandyopadhyay said the team stood on a 3D object and showed that fake moon rocks could be used to make 'strong glue' to connect the broken parts.

The 3D printer handling the lunar soil can save supply costs for a fixed base on the moon, which NASA has reportedly been considering as a possible gateway to further destinations in space.

'It's an exciting sci-fi story, but maybe we'll hear it in the next few years,' Bandyopadhyay said . '.

'As long as you can set up additive manufacturing, you can collect and print anything you want.

Not so far-fetched.

'In addition to the moon dust, the technology can be adapted to the Martian soil for manned flights to the red planet.

However, Bandyopadhyay said he has not yet been exposed to any artificial Mars dirt. Follow SPACE.

Com Twitter @ Spacedotcom.

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Picture 10 The Coolest Moon disco copyright all 2012 Space 20 the most fantastic history of the Moon MissionsNASA Apollo 11 moon landing.

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