Abstract
In order for off-Earth top surface structures built from regolith to protect astronauts from radiation, they need to be several metres thick. In a feasibility study, funded by the European Space Agency, Technical University Delft (TUD aka TU Delft) explored the possibility of building in empty lava tubes to create rhizomatic subsurface habitats. With this approach natural protection from radiation is achieved as well as thermal insulation because the temperature is more stable underground. It involves a swarm of autonomous mobile robots that survey the areas and mine for materials such as regolith in order to create cement-based concrete reproducible on Mars through in-situ resource utilisation (ISRU). The concrete is 3D printed by means of additive Design-to-Robotic-Production (D2RP) methods developed at TUD for on-Earth applications with the 3D printing system of industrial partner, Vertico. The printed components are assembled using a Human--Robot Interaction (HRI) supported approach. The 3D printed and HRI-supported assembled structures are structurally optimised porous material systems with increased insulation properties. In order to regulate the indoor pressurised environment a Life Support System (LSS) is integrated, which in this study is only conceptually developed. The habitat and the D2RP production system are powered by an automated kite power system and solar panels developed at TUD. The long-term goal is to develop an autarkic, automated and HRI-supported D2RP system for building autarkic habitats from locally obtained materials.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Adaptive On- and Off-Earth Environments |
| Editors | Angelo Cervone, Henriette Bier, Advenit Makaya |
| Place of Publication | Cham |
| Publisher | Springer |
| Chapter | 2 |
| Pages | 21-38 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-3-031-50081-7 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-3-031-50080-0 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2024 |
Publication series
| Name | Springer Series in Adaptive Environments |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Springer |
| ISSN (Print) | 2522-5529 |
| ISSN (Electronic) | 2522-5537 |
Bibliographical note
Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-careOtherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.