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Made On Mars: Design And Manufacturing Of Structural Polymer-Regolith Composites, Pailey M. Vitale
Made On Mars: Design And Manufacturing Of Structural Polymer-Regolith Composites, Pailey M. Vitale
Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects
Human exploration of Mars is constrained by harsh environmental conditions and the prohibitive cost of transporting materials from Earth. Long-term sustainability requires the local production of mechanical and structural components using resources available on Mars, thereby minimizing payload mass. This project investigates polymer–regolith composites derived from atmospheric CO₂ and mineral-rich regolith as a pathway toward in-situ manufacturing. These composites, when compatible with additive manufacturing, could replace imported plastics, enable on-demand fabrication, and support closed-loop recycling systems. The objective is to design and evaluate polymer–regolith composites that maintain mechanical integrity and environmental resistance under Martian conditions, including extreme temperature swings, radiation …
Exploring Metal Additive Manufacturing In Martian Atmospheric Environments, Zane Mebruer
Exploring Metal Additive Manufacturing In Martian Atmospheric Environments, Zane Mebruer
Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses
On-surface manufacturing is key to the success of a planetary colonization, especially that of Mars. However, traditional subtractive manufacturing processes are equipment, energy, and material intensive, meaning novel additive manufacturing (AM) processes must be pursued for this end. Selective laser melting, one of the most effective and versatile AM methods, would be incredibly beneficial to a Martian mission but requires an artificial argon atmosphere to create effective parts. The purpose of this study was to examine if carbon dioxide, the gas that makes up over 95% of Mars’ surface atmosphere, would be a sufficient substitute for argon in SLM fabrication. …