NASA is now closer to Mars and Moon colonizations using their soil. Universe Today reports that NASA's most recent International Space Station resupply mission featured a machine designed to show 3D printing regolith, which is loose soil or rock on the Moon and other extraterrestrial surfaces.
Redwire Regolith Print will be used in conjunction with an existing printer system (ManD), to 3D print simulated regolith. The ISS crew will test the strength of the resulting material in order to determine if it is able to withstand the harsh environments beyond Earth's.
RRP could allow colonists to print at least some of their habitats, if all goes according to plan. This could decrease the amount of construction materials NASA sends to Mars and the Moon. Although soil-based habitats have been envisioned for many years, this test is quite realistic as it attempts to 3D print soil in lower gravity. Although there is still much to be done, Artemis and future Mars missions will be possible with much less effort.
