Right now , there are dozens of theoretic marriage proposal for how human could finally populate Mars ( or the Moon ) , each as disturbed as the next : outer space elevator . Inflatables . Giant 3D printer . But there ’s something wonderful about watch these zany concepts egress , each with its own unique system of logic . The latest ? A plan to create cave - like dwellings for the one - way astronaut aboard Mars One .
Mars One , if you ’ll think of , is the Dutch non - profit that made news this yr when it put out acall for applications for potential astronautsinterested in embarking on a retentive , one - way journey to the Red Planet . Back in January , Mars One ’s pitch regard a serial publication of nondescript “ pods ” that seemed to perch on the surface of the planet . One of the job with building dwelling house on the surface of Mars , though , is that it ’s want for a magnetosphere — and thus , an atmosphere . Part of the challenge of “ terraforming ” the planet will be building up a Modern atmosphere .
Or , we could just go underground . That ’s the concept behind this architectural plan by Russian architectsZA . Here ’s the unfinished bones rendering : A series of automaton — equipped with the ability to dig — would identify weak areas in the Martian soil and cut up them out . Then , using a process similar to that of geomorphological 3D printing , these robots would “ print ” home structures using the remnant basalt — the most common grease on Mars . “ This material is already in use in the aerospace and automotive industries , ” designer Arina Ageeva toldDezeen . “ It is stronger and lighter than steel , easy to mesh , fireproof and it does not corrode . ”
As our bud atio9pointed out this weekend , it ’s more than a small far - fetched . At the same sentence , it does progress on engineering that ’s train on Earth . For model , there ’s Enrico Dini ’s ten - sure-enough effort to develop the first structural 3D printer , theD - Shape . Dini ’s printer uses a miscellany of cement and liquids , superheated to seal off the concoction in place . Likewise , the Mars One robot would expend solar ability to super - heat basalt — volcanic rock — until it became lava - corresponding liquid . When cool , its form would be permanent .
This spring , the European Space Agency — an organization that ’s far more potential to actually progress to the Red Planet — revealed aconceptual studythat ’s not dissimilar from this proposal . Developed in partnership with the architects Norman Foster and Partners , the project studied the feasibleness of lugging an US Army of 3D printer to the Moon , where they could be used to print shelters for the first semi - lasting inhabitants .
Of of course , we ’re a long direction off from either of these ideas being plausible . For one thing , the exercising weight of these printers would be prohibitive . But what does make sense ? Taking the free weight of schematic materials out of the equation . The precious tons saved from not shuttling steel habitats from Earth to place is the all-important insight here . block off our power to seek out born saves on the aerofoil of Mars , geomorphological 3-D impression might just be our best bet . [ Dezeenviaio9 ]
three-D printingArchitectureMarsthe moon
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