A recent proposal, as daring as it is unexpected, has emerged from research laboratories: Use the blood and urine of astronauts to build the first Martian dwellings.
A serious idea
This idea, which may seem straight out of a science fiction novel, is however the fruit of serious research carried out by international teams. Researchers from the Iranian University Kharazmi and the University of Manchester recently published studies exploring this possibility, surprisingly inspired by construction techniques dating from Roman Antiquity.
The main challenge faced by future Martian builders is the astronomical cost of transporting building materials from Earth. According to estimates, the routing of a single brick until March would cost nearly two million dollars. Faced with this constraint, the use of the resources available on site is an absolute necessity.
The Martian regolith, this dust which covers the surface of the red planet, has already been identified as a potential building material. However, to make a sufficiently resistant concrete, it takes an effective binder. This is where the idea of using human body fluids comes in.
Astrocrete
Human serum albumin, a protein present in abundance in blood plasma, turned out to be an excellent candidate to play this role of binder. The researchers discovered that this protein, when mixed with the Martian regolith, forms a solid structure comparable to terrestrial concrete. This material, called “astrocret”, would present a resistance to the compression of 25 megapascals, which is completely comparable to the 20 to 32 megapascals of ordinary concrete.
But scientists pushed the experience further by incorporating urea, a component present in urine, sweat and tears. This addition made it possible to further improve the mechanical properties of astrocret, bringing its resistance to compression to 40 megapascals, thus surpassing standard terrestrial concrete!
A technique for building Roman antiquity
This approach, although surprising, is not unprecedented historical. Researchers recall that in Antiquity, the Romans already used organic additives, including animal blood, to improve the sustainability and maneuverability of their mortar. Thus, what could appear as a futuristic innovation actually finds its roots in millennial construction techniques.
The implications of this discovery are considerable for future Martian missions. The researchers believe that a team of six astronauts, during a two -year mission on Mars, could produce enough plasma to make more than 500 kilograms of astrocret. This quantity would be sufficient to build the basic structures necessary for the establishment of a colony.
However, the implementation of this technique raises many ethical and practical questions. Regular blood collection among astronauts, even if plasma regenerates quickly, could have implications on their health in an already extremely restrictive environment. The researchers believe that it would take about 72 weeks for a single astronaut providing enough plasma to build a complete house.
Astrocrete represents a significant advance in the search for solutions for Martian colonization. It perfectly illustrates the need to think of “off the beaten track” when it comes to exploring and living in hostile extraterrestrial environments.
The researchers have already identified eleven potential formulations, offering the possibility of adapting the recipe according to the specificities of the local regolith in different regions of March. Beyond the construction of habitats, other studies explore the use of the Martian regolith for the manufacture of batteries or the production of oxygen, essential for a lasting human presence on Mars.
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