Martian soil could be turned into fibres as strong as steel

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According to a February 2024 article in New Scientist, Martian soil can be melted down and spun into fibers that are as strong as steel. The fibers have a maximum tensile strength of 1320 megapascals, which is similar to the stress that a small steel bar can withstand. The fibers also have diameters ranging from 9.7 to 13.9 micrometres

Martian soil is similar to the “weathered basaltic soils” of Hawaiian volcanoes. It contains several minerals, including feldspar, pyroxenes, and olivine. Martian soil has no organic matter or air because living things have not lived on Mars

The diameters of the fibres ranged from 9.7 to 13.9 micrometres, and they had a maximum tensile strength of 1320 megapascals, which means they could withstand a similar amount of stress as a small steel bar. “It’s quite similar to typical glass fibre used in the reinforcement of concrete,” says Ma

According to a February 23, 2024 article in New Scientist, Martian soil can be melted down and spun into fibers as strong as steel. These fibers could be used to make durable building materials for a potential Martian base

A study found that continuous fibers can be obtained from Martian soil by melting and spinning. The study also found that continuous fiber with a maximum strength of 1320 MPa was obtained on a spinning facility. 

Basalt is also abundant on Mars and can be drawn into fiber and spun into a fabric. As a rope, basalt has three times the strength of steel

Here are some fibers that could be used to make durable building materials for a potential Martian base:

  • Basalt fibers These fibers can be woven into fabrics. Basalt is abundant on Mars and can be melted down to create fibers as strong as steel. 
  • Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) These can be used to reinforce construction elements and increase their load-bearing capacity. 
  • Chitin This organic polymer is found in the cell walls of fungi, the exoskeletons of crustaceans and insects, and the scales of fish. 
  • Hemp-fiber concrete This could be used for Martian structures. 

Other materials that could be used to build on Mars include:

  • A high density polyethylene composite with sand 
  • Composite materials that combine different elements to enhance strength and flexibility 

According to Quora, building a city or colony of buildings for humans to live in on Mars is a complex and long-term endeavor that would likely take decades, if not longer. 

According to PBS, terraforming could take anywhere from 50 years to 100 million years to complete. Marspedia says that full terraforming to make Mars’ atmosphere suitable for humans could take around 100,000 years. 

According to Scitechdaily, Mars will be colonized by humans by the year 2050, as long as autonomous mining processes quickly become more commercially viable. 

According to Reddit, a Mars colony needs to create $3.8 trillion worth of machines, habitats, food, oxygen, water, and spacesuits to survive the first 100 years. They also have to create $3.9 trillion worth of stuff to sell in the first 100 years so they can buy imports. 

Yes, it’s possible to build underground on Mars. Digging deep into the surface could provide protection from radiation and building materials. Building underground could also provide thermal insulation and radiation shielding

However, there are trade-offs to building underground, such as finding a way to fly over materials that can’t be found on-site. 

According to Mars.nasa.gov, rovers have only drilled 2.8 inches into Mars, but they would need to dig at least 6.6 feet to get below the sterilizing effects of surface radiation. The InSight mission showed that digging deep on Mars won’t be easy. 

An architecture firm has released plans for Nüwa, a sustainable city on Mars that could hold up to 250,000 people in mostly underground cave systems

Absolutely. Mars doesn’t have ozone layer and magnetic field to protect its surface from radiation. Living underground could provide the colonists protection from Galactic Cosmic Radiation and Solar Flares

According to a 2021 blog post, the European Space Agency has presented a plan to create underground cities on Mars, but it’s still a science fiction script

According to a 2021 Popular Mechanics article, most plans for habitation on Mars have opted for residents to occupy underground caves. Some say that subsurface hangouts may be the safest option for astronauts who are going to be spending extended periods of time on the Moon and Mars.

Building on Mars is challenging because of the low tensile strength of Martian binders. However, there are a number of ways to build on Mars, including: 

  • Basaltic rock This volcanic material is strong and durable, making it suitable for structural components and foundations. It can be shaped into blocks, tiles, or 3D-printed structures. 
  • Composite materials Dome structures can be built using composite materials like carbon fiber or fiberglass. These materials are sturdy, light, and long-lasting. 
  • Space bricks Researchers at Bengaluru IISc have made bricks out of Martian soil using a method outlined in a study published in PLOS One. These “space bricks” can be used to construct building-like structures on Mars. 
  • 3D printed melted regolith Scientists are testing ways to construct buildings on Mars without hauling materials from Earth. One possible solution is 3D printed melted regolith. 
  • 3D printing methods and robotics technology A project mixes basalt from the surface of Mars with vegetable-based bioplastic to create a durable building material. 

The answer seems to be “it’s possible”. Many scientists consider Mars and Earth twins because of the similarities between the planets. But they aren’t entirely alike. Some challenges would need to be overcome before humans could start calling Mars home

Some say that Mars is the most habitable planet in our solar system. Here are some reasons why: 

  • Resources Mars has the essential resources for life support, including oxygen, nitrogen, and water. The planet is also rich in carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen. 
  • Soil Mars’ soil contains water that can be extracted and can also be used for radiation shielding and construction materials. 
  • Atmosphere Mars has a thin atmosphere that can help protect humans from cosmic and solar radiation. 
  • Temperature Mars has a habitable temperature, and evidence suggests that it was once warmer and had a thicker atmosphere. 
  • Gravity Mars’ gravity is 38% of Earth’s, which some believe is enough for the human body to adapt to. 
  • Sunlight Mars has enough sunlight for solar panels. 

Mars is an excellent place to investigate this question because it is the most similar planet to Earth in the Solar System. Evidence suggests that Mars was once full of water, warmer and had a thicker atmosphere, offering a potentially habitable environment.

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