3D printing
is a technology that has affected many areas such as prototyping and
manufacturing technique quickly and, above all, flexible. In fact, 3D printing
is already present in the field of medicine (to develop prostheses) and even in
space exploration where NASA evaluates their use in the International Space
Station to fabricate spare parts. However, the European Space Agency (ESA) will
use 3D printing as a base on which to build a base on the Moon's surface.
Although
the idea may seem strange to us, it is the first project of this type is
proposed and, for example, NASA is also considering something similar. In this
case, the ESA seeks to follow the path they are following some projects of
architecture and civil engineering with the use of 3D printing in the field of
construction.
Using 3D
printing allow quick deployment since it would eliminate the need to send
materials for the construction of moon base that, in fact, the project would
use rock moon pieces as material with which to create structures of this base ,
which means that the raw material would already be on the target. To develop
the project, the ESA will be supported by the company D-shape, which
specializes in the development of 3D printing based structures. The project is
not at all easy because, unlike the Earth, we are talking about 3D printing in
vacuum conditions and the use of liquids is a problem.
Furthermore
meet the conditions for construction, the project must be able to accommodate
at least 4 people and protect them from meteorites, radiation or rapid
temperature changes. If we add that, from Earth, it would have to send a
structure which would pillars and foundations of the base, the challenge it
faces the ESA is quite interesting.
