3D printing geopolymers from Lunar Soils – GLAMS Project

By exploiting locally available raw materials, the concept of the project is to minimise the costs and environmental impact due to the transport of raw materials from Earth to the Moon, especially as recent developments on the ISS found 3D printing in space possible.

Coordinated by the Centre for Space Studies and Activities "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS) of the University of Padua, the GLAMS Project holds a partnership with the Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Energy Technologies of the CNR (ICMATE) based in Genoa and WASP. The project includes Professor Luca Valentini of the Department of Geosciences as scientific manager and Prof Carlo Bettanini and Dr. Giorgia Franchin of the Department of Industrial Engineering who will lead specific work packages.

The research team intends to optimise the lunar cement formulated from regolith soils found on the Moon. The base must consider environmental conditions, including high temperature ranges, reduced gravity, atmospheric pressure, and possible impact of micrometeorites.

Developing and 3D printing a Lunar geopolymer

During the first phase of the project, Luca Valentini and Giorgia Franchin guided the research unit of the University of Padua for the formulation of the 'geo polymer binders' obtained from the chemical activation of lunar regolith. From here, the Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Energy Technologies of the CNR of Genoa selected suitable foaming agents that ensure a macro-porous structure affixed to the hardened geopolymeric binder.

Subsequently, WASP implemented the formulations undertaken during the previous phases of the project, to create a prototype of the structural element of a medium-scale macro-porous structure fabricated through 3D printing. Finally, a group coordinated by Carlo Bettanini will provide sensors for the structural elements, integrating appropriate sensor networks, aimed at the continuous monitoring of micro-meteoritic impacts.

The hope is that the GLAMS Project will help meet the needs of space agencies by creating semi-permanent human settlements on the Moon within the next decade.

The project was presented at the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Milano, as one of the projects of the IAF SPACE EXPLORATION SYMPOSIUM, for the Session: Moon Exploration. During the event, the research team presented the project and showcased one of the first 3D-printed geopolymer samples, produced using the WASP 40100 LDM equipped with the Manual Feeding System Extruder.