Future colonizers of Mars will have to be extremely creative to build a home on the Red Planet. Shipping the required building materials over 140 million kilometers is not only challenging but also extremely expensive.
Instead, scientists propose using the resources available on Mars, particularly its soil, to build permanent structures. In a new paper published in the journal Acta Astronautica, researchers analyzed 11 types of Martian concrete or cement developed from available resources and technologies.
The material called AstroCrete, which is based on mixing Martian regolith with biological fluids of the planet's future inhabitants – blood, sweat and tears, attracted particular attention. The idea of using blood as a reinforcing element is not new: this method was already used in ancient Rome to improve the quality of building mortar.
“Although it may seem unusual, human blood is actually capable of reinforcing concrete or bricks for construction on Mars,” the researchers note. As soon as the first astronauts arrive and the first structures such as inflatable modules are built, their body fluids in combination with regolith could form the basis for AstroCrete production. The concept was first proposed in 2021 by scientists at the University of Manchester.
“We have developed technologies to create concrete-like materials from Martian resources, but the answer lay very close – in our bodies,” noted Aled Roberts of the University of Manchester. A special protein in human blood, whey albumin (HAS), could serve as a natural “glue” for making concrete. Urea, a human waste product, can also increase the strength of the material.
According to scientists' calculations, an astronaut can produce enough HAS to build a small dwelling in 72 weeks. Additionally, AstroCrete material can be manufactured directly on Mars using 3D printing, simplifying the construction process.
In addition to using biological fluids, the researchers propose using natural resources on Mars, such as calcium carbonate, to make lime mortar. The planet's rich sulfur deposits could be used to produce “sulfur concrete,” a material that is corrosion-resistant and suitable for environments with high concentrations of salt or acid.
Therefore, the research proposes various innovative approaches to construction on Mars that focus on maximizing the use of local resources and the biological capabilities of the human body.
Previously, we reported on how an Indian astronaut spent three weeks in a Mars simulation.
Provided by futurism.com