Astronauts mix cement with lunar soil to build houses

In a press release, NASA said astronaut and flight engineer Matthew Dominick began studying how microgravity affects cement mixed in space by mixing a small batch of cement himself on the space station. This is part of NASA's materials science research and application framework on the solidification process of concrete.

Illustration of NASA envisioning human life on the moon

The long-term goal of the move is to serve the construction of a lunar base using the site's own soil, an important foundation for promoting a more permanent human presence on the moon.

Explaining the process, NASA said that Mr. Dominick mixed lunar soil with some secret "other materials." The liquid cement solution was inside two bags sandwiched between a bag of hot water.

Dominick then placed the mixture in the space station’s experimental freezer to incubate overnight. Finally, the researchers will return to Earth on the SpaceX Dragon shuttle and continue observing the material at ambient temperatures for several weeks.

The cement mixing process is energy-intensive and can release a lot of carbon dioxide. This gas can make the material brittle or honeycomb the concrete if mixed improperly. Scientists are hoping to better understand how microgravity might affect the process.

Instead of spending a lot of money to send fully constructed houses into space, NASA is preparing to have astronauts assemble buildings on the ground. While this isn’t the first time cement has been mixed in space or on the ISS, the inclusion of lunar soil in this latest experiment could bring humans one step closer to building homes on the moon.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/phi-hanh-gia-tron-xi-mang-bang-dat-mat-trang-huong-toi-muc-tieu-xay-nha-185240819110427034.htm