ACI Committee on Lunar Concrete Launched Following Recent Advancements from International Space Station Experiments
Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: he use of concrete materials has reached new heights and taken a leap off the surface of the Earth.ACI Committee 565, Lunar Concrete, was recently launched to support efforts within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to maintain a human presence on the lunar surface.The mission of ACI Committee 565 is to develop and report information on lunar concrete materials and supporting technology with a focus on in-situ resource utilization (ISRU).This action follows the advancements from concrete experiments conducted on the International Space Station (ISS) in a collaborative effort between The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), NASA, and the German Aerospace Center (DLR).These experiments were aimed at grasping gravity's influence on the solidification of cementitious composites and understanding the durability of an in-place lunar concrete material.While these experiments are a step forward, work is still needed to make the goal of human habitation on the lunar surface feasible, and all are encouraged to contribute to the work of ACI Committee 565. Boots on the MoonOver 50 years ago, 12 men walked on the Moon as part of NASA's Apollo program.These missions played a key role in our understanding of the lunar surface and environment.Since the Apollo missions, no human has been back to the Moon, but that is set to change in the current decade.NASA's Artemis program is the next venture in human space exploration that seeks to eventually maintain a human presence on the lunar surface and take people to Mars.Artemis 1, an uncrewed mission, was recently completed, but Artemis 3 is expected to carry humans to the lunar surface as soon as 2025.Constructing various types of infrastructure will be a necessity for maintaining a human presence on the lunar surface for extended periods of time.This includes habitats to protect crew, equipment shelters, roads, blast shields, and landing pads.Concrete materials are a plausible option for construction, but alleviating reliance on supplies from Earth is critical to minimizing risk and cost. 1 ISRU is the act of collecting, storing, and using resources found on other planetary bodies and is a significant area of focus for technology development.2 ISRU covers a wide range of applications, such as creating products for life support, rocket propellant, and construction materials. Active Work at NASAThe Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative (LSII) at NASA was started in 2019 to develop and advance technologies for the lunar surface.3 Figure 1 shows that there are five key areas within the LSII, including sustainable power and surface utilities, ISRU, survival in extreme environments, autonomous excavation and construction, and advanced robotics and autonomy.Multiple efforts within NASA are ongoing to
Source: ACI Concrete International
DOI: 10.14359/51738695
Authors: Peter J. Collins, Aleksandra Radlińska, Bernd Rattenbacher, Martina Schnellenbach-Held, Matthias Sperl
Language: English
Subfield: Building and Construction
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4416108231