Italian research project develops building material for lunar bases

The Italian research project GLAMS (Geopolymers for Additive Manufacturing and Lunar Monitoring) is working on developing 3D-printed structural elements for lunar bases from locally available lunar regolith. The aim is to minimize dependence on resource supplies from Earth and thus significantly reduce the costs and environmental impact of space travel.

The project is funded by the Italian Space Agency ASI and coordinated by the Center for Space Studies and Activities “Giuseppe Colombo” (CISAS) at the University of Padua.

The research focuses on the development of a geopolymer binder obtained from the chemical activation of lunar regolith. In a first step, scientists led by Professor Luca Valentini and Dr. Giorgia Franchin of the University of Padua have developed formulations that are designed to withstand the extreme environmental conditions on the moon, such as large temperature fluctuations, reduced gravity and micrometeorite impacts. In parallel, the Institute for Condensed Matter Chemistry and Energy Technologies (ICMATE) at the CNR in Genoa has developed suitable foaming agents to give the material a macroporous structure.

The Italian company WASP, which specializes in 3D printing technologies, has put the developed materials into practice and produced the first prototypes of medium-sized, porous structural elements using the 3D printing process. In a further project step, a team led by Professor Carlo Bettanini will integrate sensors into the structural elements in order to continuously monitor them for micrometeoritic impacts.

The project was recently presented at the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Milan. The research team presented the first printed prototypes, produced with a WASP 40100 LDM printer. In the long term, GLAMS should help to enable lunar bases for semi-permanent human settlements and create the basis for future space missions.