European Space Agency unveils plans for 3D-printed homes on the Moon
The European Space Agency has revealed that the first human homes on the Moon could be built by 3D-printing robots.
A new video shows the plans for a lunar base that can house four people, and is made from an inflatable dome covered in lunar soil.
It is built by a robot-operated 3D printer, which scoops up dust from the Moon’s surface and turns it into a light but strong protective shell to cover the dome.
The finished structure would protect those inside from solar radiation, meteorites and extreme temperatures. The living space is in a pressurised enclosure protected by an airlock and has sky lights to let in daylight.
Watch the video below to see how it’s built and visit the European Space Agency’s website to find out more.
To learn about space planes and how Virgin Galactic is planning to take space tourists into the Solar System, pick up issue 66 of How It Works magazine in print, or download it onto your digital device.
