Building on Mars: sustainable radiation shielding

Mars lacks a protective magnetosphere, leaving future astronauts and equipment vulnerable to dangerous cosmic radiation. At the Technische Universität Berlin, Germany a team is developing a solution using local Martian resources, with ESA Discovery funding supporting research into 3D-printing of Martian clay minerals for adobe buildings with increased radiation protection.

The project exploits the presence of clay-rich regolith, ice water, and brines naturally occurring on Mars. Using 3D printing, these materials can be processed into slurries that remain frozen under Martian conditions, providing structural integrity similar to that of concrete on Earth. Crucially, such materials are effective absorbers of radiation, with performance improving with higher water content.

Find out more here.