歐洲航天局月球居住點

業主單位：歐洲航天局

建筑設計：福斯特建筑事務所

聯盟領導和太空工程：Alta Spa

程序控制：Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna

3D 打印技術：英國Monolite

設計/建造：2009 / 2013 年

Client: European Space Agency (General Studies Program)

Architectural Design: Foster + Partners

Consortium Lead and Space Engineering: Alta Spa

Process Control: Scuola Superiore Sant’ Anna

3D Print Technology: Monolite UK

Design / Completion: 2009 / 2013

福斯特建筑事務所與歐洲航天局合作，對月球結構進行3D 打印。

福斯特建筑事務所是歐洲航天局成立的聯營機構的一部分，其目的是探索3D打印建造月球棲息地的可能性。為解決向月球運送物資的挑戰，這項研究正在調查月壤（即表土）作為建筑材料用途的可行性。

為此，事務所設計了一個可容納四人的月球基地，可提供保護以免受隕石、γ 輻射和高溫波動的影響。該基地首先從一個管狀模型上展開，這種模型可由太空火箭運輸。然后可充氣的圓頂從這個圓柱體的一端延伸出來，為建造過程提供一個支撐結構。表土層隨后由機器人操作的3D 打印機堆在圓頂上，形成保護殼。

為了確保強度，同時保持連接“油墨”的數量到最低限度，保護殼由類似泡沫的中空封閉蜂窩結構組成。該結構的幾何形狀由福斯特建筑事務所與聯合機構的合作伙伴合作設計——在展示使用3D 打印技術打造接近自然生物系統結構的潛力方面，該結構具有開創性。

模擬月球土壤已被用于創建一個1.5 噸重的模型，而3D 打印測試已在一個小型真空艙中進行，以模擬月球條件。該基地計劃建在月球南極，因為那里幾乎一直都有陽光直射地面。

該聯營機構包括意大利航天工程公司Alta SpA，公司與總部位于比薩的工程大學ScuolaSuperioreSant’ Anna 共同合作完成此項目。英國Monolite 公司提供了一款D 形?打印機，并開發了一種歐洲自主研發的月球表土興奮劑，目前已用于打印所有樣品和實物模型。

Foster + Partners works with European Space Agency to 3D print structures on the moon.

Foster + Partners is part of a consortium set up by the ESA to explore the possibilities of 3D printing to construct lunar habitations. Addressing the challenges of transporting materials to the moon, the study is investigating the use of lunar soil, known as regolith, as building matter.

The practice has designed a lunar base to house four people, which can offer protection from meteorites, gamma radiation and high temperature fluctuations. The base is first unfolded from a tubular module that can be transported by space rocket. An inflatable dome then extends from one end of this cylinder to provide a support structure for construction. Layers of regolith are then built up over the dome by a robot-operated 3D printer to create a protective shell.

To ensure strength while keeping the amount of binding “ink” to a minimum, the shell is made up of a hollow closed cellular structure similar to foam. The geometry of the structure was designed by Foster + Partners in collaboration with consortium partners - it is groundbreaking in demonstrating the potential of 3D printing to create structures that are close to natural biological systems.

Simulated lunar soil has been used to create a 1.5 tonne mockup and 3D printing tests have been undertaken at a smaller scale in a vacuum chamber to echo lunar conditions. The planned site for the base is at the moon’s southern pole, where there is near perpetual sunlight on the horizon.

The consortium includes Italian space engineering firm Alta SpA, working with Pisa-based engineering university Scuola Superiore Sant’ Anna. Monolite UK supplied the D-Shape? printer and developed a European source for lunar regolith stimulant, which has been used for printing all samples and demonstrators.