Next Moon Base Could be Printed Using Moon Dirt

Feb-04-13 If the project from Foster + Partners is successful, 3D printers and moon dust could help lead to the colonization of the moon.

Because the design uses moon dust as the main construction material, there would be less cargo to transport to the lunar surface. An inflatable dome would form the structure of the base, and a robotic printer would travel over it to lay down the moon dirt, called regolith. The base would be large enough to shelter four people and extensions could be added easily.

A structure built using simulated lunar soil is being tested in a vacuum chamber with similar conditions as are found on the moon.

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[SPACE.COM]

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