Investigate potential of Mars and Lunar resources

The proposed project of the University of Delaware is to develop “cement-like” construction materials from lunar and martian regolith using novel methods for making cement binders from geopolymers on earth. This directly addresses NASA’s needs for astronaut survivability and the utilization of Mars and Lunar resources, specifically as it applies to in-situ resource utilization for building shelter structures using additive manufacturing technology, thereby minimizing the upload from Earth. The proposed work consists of: i) Testing the RegoLight 3D printing technology using the BP-1 Lunar soil simulant provided by Kennedy Space Center. ii) Developing formulations of geopolymer binder for 3D printing structural components. iii) Determining the chemical composition of the geopolymer “bonds” by analytical methods. iv) Optimizing the curing time and temperature. The project will leverage the current experience of the investigators of the Materials Physics in Space of the German Aerospace Center of the the vacuum 3D solar printing technique together with expertise of the University of Delaware geopolymer-based binders to validate 3D printing/chemical curing with solar sintering to obtain building blocks for extraterrestrial habitats.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.