On the Development of Sulfur-Regolith Concrete as an ISRU-Based Construction Material for Lunar and Martian Infrastructure

As mankind gets closer to a sustainable presence on the Moon, it is imperative to develop technologies that maximize the use of In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)-based materials and processes. Construction 3D printing is such a process and offers a large-scale automated construction technique that can be leveraged for planetary construction. Because Portland cement concrete (PCC) is unstable during curing in the vacuum of the lunar surface, this paper reports on the properties of Martian and Lunar sulfur-regolith concrete (SRC). As early Artemis missions are focused on regions near the lunar South Pole, this effort focuses on the use and performance of this material in polar applications. Sublimation rate testing was also performed on SRC samples at lunar South Pole pressure and temperature. The results revealed different flow behavior and shape stability levels of Martian SRC and PCC, as well as the negative impacts of extended interlayer delays on the flexural strength of SRC. The 3D printed SRC demonstrated rapid strength development and outperformed the printed PCC under near vacuum and high temperature. Results also show that sublimation is slowed at colder, lunar South Pole temperatures.