Nebula Public Library

The knowledge bank of ESA’s R&D programmes

Recycling enhanced additive manufacturing processes under Martian environmental conditions (RAMMEC)

Programme
Discovery
Programme Reference
ETD 2022-06b
Contractor
FOTEC Forschungs- und Technologietransfer GmbH
Start Date
End Date
Status
Closed
Country
Austria
Recycling enhanced additive manufacturing processes under Martian environmental conditions (RAMMEC)
Description

In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) is a reasonable approach for future exploration missions to build structures on Moon or Mars with on-site resources such as regolith or Sulfur. Such structures can be habitats for astronauts, landing pads or spare parts needed during such missions. The idea is to save payload by using the regolith for radiation shielding, protection against micrometeorite impacts or similar applications. The aim of this project was to develop an additive manufacturing setup capable of demonstrating the processing of Martian regolith simulant under ambient and simulated Martian environmental conditions (atmosphere composition and pressure at room temperature) and to produce a first set of material data, to prepare in-situ manufacturing capability for future exploration missions.

Technology Domain
24 - Materials and Manufacturing Processes
Executive summary