Introduction

Constructing a lunar base with the standard building techniques and materials that are used on Earth would be completely infeasible on the Moon, due to transportation cost, reduced gravity, high temperature changes, and a fraction of the Earth’s atmospheric pressure. Despite these challenges, NASA has a plan to 3d print and inhabit a lunar outpost for extensive research and a deep space refuel station.

The plan NASA currently has is to have a rocket with an inflatable dome and multiple rovers capable of both mining and 3D printing initially land on the Moon to build a livable habitat before humans even arrive. After the rocket touches down on the lunar surface, it will deploy the inflatable dome habitat that will inflate to a low pressure. The mining and printing rovers will be deployed which will start collecting lunar soil, referred to as regolith, to create mix with resin making filament which will be used to print the walls. The rovers will print a strategic hollow pattern around the inflated habitat and fill the cavities with regolith. The patterns are designed to mimic the structure of bird bones to achieve the maximum strength for the least amount of material. Once a sufficient regolith shell encapsulates the habitat, breathable air can pressurize the dome and astronauts can live in the first lunar base.