New Space and Tech

3D Printed Lunar Building Block

By Keith Cowing
Press Release
April 10, 2015
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3D Printed Lunar Building Block
Lunar Building Block
ESA

This building block of a future Moon base, 3D-printed from simulated lunar material, is now on show at the Hypervital exhibition, part of the International Design Biennale in Saint-Etienne, France.
This 1.5 tonne building block was produced as a demonstration of 3D printing techniques using lunar soil. The design is based on a hollow closed-cell structure – combining strength with low weight, in the same way as bird bones.

The block was produced as part of a larger ESA feasibility project, investigating 3D printing in the lunar environment.

Hypervital is open for visitors for the next six months.

SpaceRef co-founder, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA, Away Teams, Journalist, Space & Astrobiology, Lapsed climber.