Yes, a crew member on Mars could produce enough human serum albumin (HAS) in 72 weeks to create a small habitat using a mixture of Martian rocks and bodily fluid called AstroCrete: 

AstroCrete 

What it is 

A waterless concrete made from Martian rocks and bodily fluid 

How it works 

The protein HAS in blood acts as a binder to transform Martian soil into concrete 

Benefits 

No water is required for mixing, which is useful in Mars’ arid environment 

Challenges 

Low density means it offers poor protection from cosmic radiation, and forcing astronauts to donate blood would hamper other projects 

Other considerations for building on Mars include:

• UreaAdding urea, a compound found in urine, sweat, or tears, can increase the compressive strength and plasticity of AstroCrete 
• Sulfur depositsLooking for sulfur deposits on Mars to build habitats for acid and salty environments 
• Onsite constructionUsing in-situ resources, such as the blood, sweat, and tears of the first Martian visitors, is the most promising approach 

However, producing AstroCrete poses its own challenges: each astronaut could provide enough plasma in 72 weeks to build a single dwelling. Other solutions, such as polymer-based or sulfur-based concrete, are among the options being explored, but AstroCrete stands out due to its local and reproducible nature

Mars is no longer just a destination; it’s also an architectural challenge. While Martian colonization remains a distant goal, researchers are exploring bold solutions for constructing habitats on this hostile planet. What if the secret lay within our own bodies

Earth-based logistics pose a significant issue: transporting construction materials over the 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) separating us from Mars is financially prohibitive. Delivering a single brick would cost approximately two million dollars. This forces the search for local and innovative alternatives.

Martian regolith, a mineral dust omnipresent on the Red Planet, appears to be a promising resource. However, its fine and crumbly structure requires a binder to become a usable construction material.

This is where researchers from Kharazmi University in Iran propose an unusual idea: mixing this regolith with bodily fluids, particularly human blood. Inspired by ancient Roman practices, they envision a material called AstroCrete, characterized by significant strength.

In antiquity, masons added organic substances, such as animal blood, to enhance the durability of their mortar. Today, human serum albumin, a protein found in blood plasma, could play a similar role on Mars. When mixed with regolith, it forms a compressive concrete with a strength of 25 megapascals, comparable to conventional concrete.

The results don’t stop there. Adding urine or sweat, both rich in urea, would further increase the material’s strength by up to 300%. However, producing AstroCrete poses its own challenges: each astronaut could provide enough plasma in 72 weeks to build a single dwelling.

Other solutions, such as polymer-based or sulfur-based concrete, are among the options being explored, but AstroCrete stands out due to its local and reproducible nature. 3D printing could accelerate its use, and the addition of calcium carbonate present on Mars could offer alternatives for producing a durable mortar

The dream of living on Mars takes an unexpected twist. Scientists suggest future Martian habitats could use human blood as a key ingredient. This idea, while innovative, poses ethical and health challenges for pioneers.

Building with Martian Dust and Human Fluids

Transporting building materials from Earth to Mars is impractical. With the Red Planet located 62 million kilometres away, local resources are the solution. A study by the University of Tehran proposes using Martian regolith, combined with serum albumin from human blood plasma, to create “AstroCrete.”

AstroCrete is a protein-enhanced cement, offering significant strength. Lab tests reveal it is 300% stronger than Martian concrete alternatives. Historical examples, like the Romans using blood in mortar, support the idea’s feasibility

Alternative Solutions to AstroCrete

While AstroCrete offers a bold vision, researchers explore other methods. In-situ resource utilisation (ISRU) focuses on extracting water or using Martian sulphur for cement. Bioengineering may involve microbes to create biocement. Robotic systems could 3D print structures with regolith-based compounds.

The study highlights the challenges of settling on Mars. Pioneers may need to sacrifice more than expected to survive. Using bodily fluids to construct homes is innovative but controversial. As humanity inches closer to Mars, the price of survival could be measured in blood, sweat, and tears.

Settlements on the moon and Marscould grow thanks to the blood, sweat and tears of pioneering astronauts — literally.

So researchers are investigating ways to grow crops, produce rocket fuel and build structures with off-Earth materials. A new study suggests an intriguing possibility on the building front: Hardy bricks can be made by combining lunar or Martian dirt with a protein found in human blood and a compound called urea from sweat, tears or urine.

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