Yeah, you read that right! A team has created a 3D printer called Vulcan that can function on Moon using local lunar materials. The 3D printer can print up to a height of 8.5 feet, a width of 28 feet, and a length of 70 feet. Besides, it can print a house with a speed of around 7-inches per second.
The Project Olympus is meant to print structures on the lunar surface; however, there are a few hiccups. One of the biggest issues is finding building materials. Well, Moon has a lot of dust.
Lunar dust is a problem
Vulcan uses Lavacrete, a type of flowing concrete that hardens instantly, making a wall layer by layer easy. But transporting tons of concrete for building structures on the Moon will be a hefty task.
The Lunar Plume Alleviation Device aims to tackle problems caused when an engine exhaust meets the dusty surface of the Moon. To fix it, a pad is set up in two layers. The first pad is used for landing, while the other one helps divert exhaust flow towards the structure’s exterior while curbing the dust to a determined parameter.
Moon colony in offing?
Recently, three groups joined forces to develop another 3D-printed rocket pad. They tested the construction under static fire from a rocket motor. The team measured the exhaust flow, temperatures, and strains to learn if there’s room for improvement. The team is yet to publish the results of the experiment.
“This is the first milestone on the journey to making off-world construction a reality, which will allow humanity to stay – not just visit the stars,” said Michael McDaniel, ICON’s head of design.
In October last year, ICON and a few students developed a landing pad built completely out of the materials extracted from the lunar surface. This hints that building from materials found on Moon is possible; however, a few issues need to be tackled, including the need for water.
