3D printing could help in colonising other planets

When humans start to colonise other planets, infrastructure could be 3D printed using the surrounding cosmic dust, say scientists.

Researchers at Northwestern University’s Tissue Engineering and Additive Manufacturing Laboratory in Chicago simulated particles found on the moon and Mars to 3D print functional and structural objects.

To tackle the issue of limited resources on other planets and moons "people will need to use what is available to make habitats beyond Earth," said Ramille Shah, materials engineer at the university.

The team created Nasa-approved dust that mimics the size, shape and composition of “micro-rocks” found on the Moon and Mars. Along with biopolymers and solvents, they used the dust to make “3D paints” to print structures that are more than 90% dust by weight.

"We even 3D printed interlocking bricks, similar to Lego, that can be used as building blocks," Shah added.

The particles are elastic and flexible – similar to rubber – and can be cut, rolled, folded and shaped as desired, said the scientists.

Last year, the university mixed simulated Martian particles with sulphur – an abundant element on the red planet – to create concrete that could be used to build structures. In 2015, Nasa gave an award to another team of researchers who had suggested the 3D printing of pressurised, radiation-proof “ice houses” on Mars using the water available on the planet.

Shah and her team previously created 3D paints using to print structures, as well as developing a 3D printable ink that produces synthetic hyper-elastic bone material whose shape can be customised for implants.

The research has been published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports.