![](\"http:\/\/www.esa.int\/var\/esa\/storage\/images\/esa_multimedia\/images\/2017\/03\/3d_printed_mars_simulant\/16868342-1-eng-GB\/3D_printed_Mars_simulant_small.jpg\")
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\nThese small-scale structures have been 3D printed out of simulated Mars dust, to investigate the feasibility of one day using local materials for building on the Red Planet and other planets.\n<\/p>\n
\nA miniature igloo and a corner wall were manufactured as examples of designs that might be required by colonists, produced from \u2018JSC-Mars-1A\u2019<\/a> \u2013 volcanic soil that has undergone careful processing to match the known composition and characteristics of martian soil.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cThe material was mixed with phosphoric acid serving as a binding \u2018ink\u2019, then extruded through a nozzle and deposited in successive layers,\u201d explains Christoph Buchner of Fotec<\/a>, the research arm of the University of Applied Sciences in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, which performed the test project for ESA.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cThe hardened results demonstrate the technique has potential for hardware and structural manufacturing on a variety of planetary bodies \u2013 it does not depend on the destination.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cSo this is a promising step towards \u2018in-situ resource utilisation\u2019 \u2013 the concept of using as much local materials as possible during a planetary mission, to cut down on the launch mass and cost.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cThese samples were produced as part of a larger ESA project into \u2018Limited resources manufacturing technologies\u2019, supported through our Technology Research Programme<\/a> involving promising new technologies for space,\u201d comments ESA materials engineer Advenit Makaya, overseeing the project.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cThis is an encouraging result,\u201d adds Tommaso Ghidini, Head of ESA\u2019s Materials and Processes Section, \u201cwhich complements a number of activities ESA is undertaking to provide the technologies for long-distance robotic and manned exploration.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cFor such missions, in-situ manufacturing will be key, so we are developing a wide variety of capabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \nThese small-scale structures have been 3D printed out of simulated Mars dust, to investigate the feasibility of one day using local materials for building on the Red Planet and other planets.\n<\/p>\n \nA miniature igloo and a corner wall were manufactured as examples of designs that might be required by colonists, produced from ‘JSC-Mars-1A’<\/a> – volcanic soil that has undergone careful processing to match the known composition and characteristics of martian soil.\n<\/p>\n \n“The material was mixed with phosphoric acid serving as a binding ‘ink’, then extruded through a nozzle and deposited in successive layers,” explains Christoph Buchner of Fotec<\/a>, the research arm of the University of Applied Sciences in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, which performed the test project for ESA.\n<\/p>\n \n“The hardened results demonstrate the technique has potential for hardware and structural manufacturing on a variety of planetary bodies – it does not depend on the destination.\n<\/p>\n \n“So this is a promising step towards ‘in-situ resource utilisation’ – the concept of using as much local materials as possible during a planetary mission, to cut down on the launch mass and cost.”\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n