Bringing the tools or materials to be used on Mars to the Red Planet is an extremely costly business. Therefore, there are important steps to be overcome in terms of cost of the planned comprehensive Mars missions. According to scientists, some big problems can be overcome thanks to 3D printers.
According to the data announced by NASA, approximately $ 54,000 is spent for every 1 kilogram of material to be sent to orbit from the Earth’s surface. Because of this high cost, scientists have been looking for ways to produce the necessary materials in space for a while. One of the options discovered is to produce the necessary vehicles using the 3D printing method using materials already in space.
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3D printers could make space travel easier
This idea was first revealed in 2011 by experiments conducted by a research team led by Amit Bandyopadhyay. In 2011, the Washington State University team used simulated moon dust, also known as lunar regolith, to 3D print the tools. With research proving that materials can be produced successfully, vehicles have been produced on the International Space Station by 3D printing as needed. More recently, this technology has been used on a sample of regolith soil on Mars. According to the first tests, the results are extremely successful.
3D printed from Martian soil
In their new research, Bandyopadhyay and his team used Mars regolith in concentrations of 5 to 100 percent, along with a titanium alloy. The mixtures made were heated to high temperatures and then cooled. Afterwards, the durability of the materials was tested. In the research, it was observed that the materials created with 100 percent Mars material are unstable, but scientists state that these structures can be used against radiation.
On the other hand, it was noted that there was a significant increase in the robustness of the structure when less Martian soil was used in the materials created with the 3D printer. So much so that the resulting materials are even more durable than titanium, as well as more flexible and lighter. Scientists state that this technology is very open to development and is critical for Mars journeys.
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