Astronauts Are Busy Testing Cement-Mixing Techniques In Order To Construct A Permanent Base On The Moon
As early as 2026, NASA plans to send astronauts to the moon to build a permanent base under its Artemis program.
In preparation for the future lunar construction work, astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS) are conducting an experiment to determine how microgravity affects cement in space.
The task of building infrastructure on the moon is a complicated one. So, that’s why astronauts are testing cement-mixing techniques on board the space station before actually landing on the moon. The goal is to construct a permanent base using lunar soil.
“NASA and its international partners are studying ways to make it economical to construct satellites in space, as well as build crew habitats on the moon,” wrote the agency.
Mixing lunar soil with other materials to make cement can reduce the cost of sending supplies from Earth to the moon. NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick combined a simulated lunar soil with other materials and a liquid solution in two bags. A third bag filled with hot water was placed in between them.
Then, he put the bags in the space station’s experiment-conditioning refrigerator overnight. The mixture will be kept in the refrigerator for a few weeks to allow it to settle at “ambient temperatures.” Afterward, it will be sent to Earth on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft for analysis.
The process of mixing concrete can release a lot of carbon dioxide. When prepared incorrectly, the gas can cause the material to become brittle and develop unwanted air bubbles. It is hoped that conducting this experiment in space will provide some insight into how microgravity affects the situation.
The experiment is part of the Material Science on the Solidification of Concrete Hardening Investigation. It uses different combinations of water, sand, cement, simulated lunar soil and other additives to identify the one that works best for lunar building purposes.
Not only will the project help with building sustainable structures on the moon, but it will also aid in the search for cement alternatives on Earth.
Galushchenkova – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
The cement industry has many negative impacts on the environment, including high levels of carbon dioxide emissions, loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, water pollution and flooding.
Due to this industry, the environment will continue to be polluted with over four billion tons of carbon dioxide every year until researchers find a more sustainable material to replace concrete.
That’s why such research is more important than ever if we want to reduce humanity’s environmental impact on Earth and other celestial bodies. Even minor adjustments can make a huge difference on a global scale.
Overall, this research improves scientists’ understanding of the properties of cement, which increases the potential of leading to new concrete mixtures that will benefit all of us greatly.
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
More About:News