NASA's latest cargo for space station includes 3D printing system from lunar soil

NASA is one step closer to creating colonies on the Moon and Mars using soil from celestial bodies. Universe

Today notes that NASA's latest mission to...The International Space Station's resupply project included a vehicle designed to demonstrate 3D printing of regolith (that is, loose soil or rock) on the Moon and similar extraterrestrial surfaces.

The Redwire Regolith Print (RRP) project willwork in tandem with an existing printer system (ManD) to test 3D printing of simulated regolith. If successful, the ISS crew will test the strength of the resulting material in outer space to see if it can withstand harsh conditions beyond Earth.

</ img>

If all goes well, RRP could lead tothat the colonists will print at least some of their homes as needed. This, in turn, could reduce the amount of construction materials that NASA delivers to the Moon and Mars. Scientists have been imagining habitats based on local soil for years, but this test is relatively realistic &#8211; this is an attempt at 3D printing from soil in low gravity. Although there is still much work to be done, the long-term goals of Artemis and future missions to Mars may become more achievable.

Source: universetoday

Illustrations: Redwire Space

</ p>