NASA’s latest International Space Station (ISS) mission is equipped with a 3D printer demonstrator to build a building on-site using the lunar soil (Regolith).

This project, called Redwire Regolith Print (RRP), is a demonstration test of 3D printing using materials that look like regolith in collaboration with existing printing equipment, and the output is as expected in an environment different from the earth. Let’s see if it shows strength.

When considering building a facility for aviators to stay on the moon, it is not realistic to bring all the materials from Earth.

For this reason, researchers have been studying the construction of residential facilities using regolith that can be procured locally for many years, and have come up with various ideas. NASA was also soliciting groundbreaking ideas in a competition format.

This experiment is serious about achieving this, and we will see if 3D printing of soil under low gravity works well. There are still many issues to be solved, but it is hoped that experiments will serve as a foothold for solving them.

It may also be useful not only for the Moon but also for future expansion into Mars.

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