欧洲航天局月球居住点

业主单位：欧洲航天局

建筑设计：福斯特建筑事务所

联盟领导和太空工程：Alta Spa

程序控制：Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna

3D 打印技术：英国Monolite

设计/建造：2009 / 2013 年

Client: European Space Agency (General Studies Program)

Architectural Design: Foster + Partners

Consortium Lead and Space Engineering: Alta Spa

Process Control: Scuola Superiore Sant’ Anna

3D Print Technology: Monolite UK

Design / Completion: 2009 / 2013

福斯特建筑事务所与欧洲航天局合作，对月球结构进行3D 打印。

福斯特建筑事务所是欧洲航天局成立的联营机构的一部分，其目的是探索3D打印建造月球栖息地的可能性。为解决向月球运送物资的挑战，这项研究正在调查月壤（即表土）作为建筑材料用途的可行性。

为此，事务所设计了一个可容纳四人的月球基地，可提供保护以免受陨石、γ 辐射和高温波动的影响。该基地首先从一个管状模型上展开，这种模型可由太空火箭运输。然后可充气的圆顶从这个圆柱体的一端延伸出来，为建造过程提供一个支撑结构。表土层随后由机器人操作的3D 打印机堆在圆顶上，形成保护壳。

为了确保强度，同时保持连接“油墨”的数量到最低限度，保护壳由类似泡沫的中空封闭蜂窝结构组成。该结构的几何形状由福斯特建筑事务所与联合机构的合作伙伴合作设计——在展示使用3D 打印技术打造接近自然生物系统结构的潜力方面，该结构具有开创性。

模拟月球土壤已被用于创建一个1.5 吨重的模型，而3D 打印测试已在一个小型真空舱中进行，以模拟月球条件。该基地计划建在月球南极，因为那里几乎一直都有阳光直射地面。

该联营机构包括意大利航天工程公司Alta SpA，公司与总部位于比萨的工程大学ScuolaSuperioreSant’ Anna 共同合作完成此项目。英国Monolite 公司提供了一款D 形™打印机，并开发了一种欧洲自主研发的月球表土兴奋剂，目前已用于打印所有样品和实物模型。

Foster + Partners works with European Space Agency to 3D print structures on the moon.

Foster + Partners is part of a consortium set up by the ESA to explore the possibilities of 3D printing to construct lunar habitations. Addressing the challenges of transporting materials to the moon, the study is investigating the use of lunar soil, known as regolith, as building matter.

The practice has designed a lunar base to house four people, which can offer protection from meteorites, gamma radiation and high temperature fluctuations. The base is first unfolded from a tubular module that can be transported by space rocket. An inflatable dome then extends from one end of this cylinder to provide a support structure for construction. Layers of regolith are then built up over the dome by a robot-operated 3D printer to create a protective shell.

To ensure strength while keeping the amount of binding “ink” to a minimum, the shell is made up of a hollow closed cellular structure similar to foam. The geometry of the structure was designed by Foster + Partners in collaboration with consortium partners - it is groundbreaking in demonstrating the potential of 3D printing to create structures that are close to natural biological systems.

Simulated lunar soil has been used to create a 1.5 tonne mockup and 3D printing tests have been undertaken at a smaller scale in a vacuum chamber to echo lunar conditions. The planned site for the base is at the moon’s southern pole, where there is near perpetual sunlight on the horizon.

The consortium includes Italian space engineering firm Alta SpA, working with Pisa-based engineering university Scuola Superiore Sant’ Anna. Monolite UK supplied the D-Shape™ printer and developed a European source for lunar regolith stimulant, which has been used for printing all samples and demonstrators.