Lunar Road Construction
Figure 1: 1:10 scale prototype road
SpaceFactory’s current collaboration with NASA is focused on more efficient construction methods for roads on the lunar surface. Though the project is still in the early stages, phase one was successful in demonstrating a small scale prototype paving a road in a relevant environment and granting the team phase two funding. A construction material was created by taking coarse grain regolith simulant and pre-coating it with molten PLA to form a cement like substance. This mixture was then loaded into a paving apparatus, which was deposited and then compacted and reheated it to help it harden. This prototype road was tested by driving a wheel over it for several hours (Figure 1).
Below, Figures 2-4 show the paving apparatus laying down the regolith simulant and PLA composite, then compacting and heating the layer to harden the lunar road.
Figure 2: Paving apparatus depositing material
Figure 3: Paving apparatus reheating material
Figure 4: Paving apparatus compacting material
For more photos please visit flickr.com/photos/spacefactory, and check back in for phase two updates soon!