Space-grade regolith composite material 3D printing

Additive manufacturing provides flexibility that will make it indispensable for future Lunar-based manufacturing and construction. We have successfully 3D printed parts from a composite of space-grade Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK) with 50% w/w Lunar dust simulant, from filaments fabricated in-house. This is a significant step toward reducing the costs (driven by launch mass) of long-term Lunar exploration by integrating use of local resources. We have also developed a mobile 3D printing system that enables precise manufacturing of large-scale parts using small mobile robots, further reducing required launch masses.