Arrival

Inter-planetary construction

Scenario by Niina Hyry, 2021

The year 2030 has been busy in the space industry as several space programmes are prepared to send human colonies on Mars. Before humans' arrival, many space organisations have sent rovers to build shelters for future habitats. With the help of all the information provided by previous landers and rovers on Mars, it has been possible to simulate the Martian circumstances and build a rover that can independently 3d print buildings by using Martian regolith as a material.

When humans arrive in 2031 they will carry the insulation material with them during their six-month space flight. Mycelium, the network of fungi, has been found to be excellent insulation material as it gives shelter, binds the material together where it grows, is fire retardant and water-absorbent, so the humidity and heat will not escape to the deep space from Martian habitats. 

During the space flight, the mycelium network is growing, but also it provides food for the crew. Fungi digest the non-edible plant parts. The fruiting body of fungi will provide a fresh source of food with lots of nutrients and minerals. Moreover, the production can continue on the surface of Mars. 

Buildings and shelters are made out of materials generated locally, martian regolith, water, plant waste and mycelium. This green innovation requires a robot-arm and three-dimensional plan in the form of a code to become a reality. Robotic-arm rovers collect regolith and ice, and the mixture is slowly heated inside the robotic belly. Mycelium and straw mix is added to the mixture just before the 3d printing takes place. A large plastic dome is covering the building site in order to let mycelium grow. After it is fully grown, the cover is removed, and the structure strengthens and dries.

This process could be repeated on a small scale as well, where the first shelter could function as a building block incubator. More minor elements and spare parts could also be built with the help of a robotic arm.

After a few decades have passed, the first shelters have come to the end of their life-cycle. The shelters can now be recycled for soil use. By adding some amount of microbes to the regolith composite, they will start the composting process of soil-forming.