Will Robotic 3D Printers Build The First House On The Moon?

The China National Space Administration (CNSA), the country’s NASA equivalent, has plans to build a habitable station on the moon. 

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Construction of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) is planned for the early 2030s. Before building it, China will send probes through the Chang'e 6, 7 and 8 robotic exploration missions. 

Some of these missions will scour the moon for reusable resources to enable human habitation. The third mission will include a 3D printing robot that will create lunar bricks of soil to gauge the feasibility of constructing buildings using on-site lunar materials. 

Ding Lieyun, chief scientist of the National Digital Construction Technology Innovation Centre, said the costs of transporting traditional building materials were impossibly high for a space mission to the moon. Scientists and engineers would need to work with lunar soil and rocks as on-site materials. Completing this task would require innovative techniques, including 3D printers that can fabricate walls and other structures from a range of materials. 

Back on earth, firms like startup Apis Cor offer an advanced solution for crafting custom-built 3D printing construction. The company offers custom-made 3D-printed walls using a proprietary concrete blend that outperforms traditional concrete block walls. It creates hurricane- and earthquake-resistant walls that comply with building codes, cost less than traditional walls and take a fraction of the time to build. With 3D printing, builders can use more local materials, which can sharply reduce expenses and emissions from shipping materials on-site. 

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Proponents of 3D printing in construction point to the technology’s promise to help the affordable housing crisis in the U.S. and other markets. 3D printers that can lay foundations, form walls and create footings with minimal supervision or staff. This lowers expenses, prevents injuries and their related costs and allows builders to create homes efficiently and quickly. Concrete structure homes built with 3D printers instead of traditional wood frames are also attractive because of the continued high costs of lumber and concrete. They also provide better protection against rot, termites and mold. These homes are a viable option for unhoused people, as they’re customizable to fit various needs, climates and living situations. 

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3D-printed homes represent a massive opportunity for startups and established companies. SkyQuest Technology, a growth consulting firm that provides market intelligence, estimates the 3D printing construction market will reach $397.5 billion by 2030 representing a brisk compound annual growth rate of 87.38% from 2023 to 2030. This expected growth is just a part of the multitrillion-dollar construction market and might be an underestimate because of 3D printing’s promise. 

Builders and developers are always looking for ways to cut costs, reduce materials usage and reduce time-to-build capabilities. As 3D printing installations move beyond one-off houses and create entire developments or commercial parks, builders will turn to the technology. The expected market growth will enable 3D printing firms like Apis Cor and others to further refine and expand their capabilities

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