3
4
How do you simulate building conditions on the Moon and/or
Mars while working with the materials on Earth?
This microwave
heating system
is now being
evaluated as an
efficient means
to heat various
soils in order to
extract volatiles
(primarily
water). The
soil samples
are contained
in a quartz
tube that is
inserted in the
microwave
cavity.
Usually initial studies are performed under Earth’s atmosphere. Later, the building techniques can be
evaluated either in a vacuum (like on the Moon) or in a low pressure CO2 atmosphere (similar to that
on Mars).
How would the bricks be assembled into an actual structure, and
how would it be anchored to the surface? What seals the bricks
together, and would the structure be airtight?
There are many approaches that are being investigated to address these questions. One approach
we are looking at is to melt the regolith (lunar or Mars soil) using microwaves and the