Building on the Moon Using Additive Manufacturing: Discussion of Robotic Approaches

Abstract

We present two concepts for building structures on the moon. The first involves an all-purpose robot with exchangeable tools, able to excavate regolith, produce slurry and print a structure. The second involves a team of robots: one excavator, one sintering using sunlight, and another gathering the sintered bricks and building a structure. ESA's Space Resources Strategy sets the challenge of achieving human presence at the Moon, sustained by local resources, by 2040, which includes in-situ manufacturing and construction. We take a realistic look at the feasibility of these concepts and their component technologies, and their challenges with respect to the state of the art and expected technological readiness in the next 2-5 years.