Artist's concept of Mars outpost designed to protect astronauts from radiation. The shelter is made up from radiation-shielding materials that may be producted from the elements available locally on Mars.
"One possible solution is "Mars bricks." Astronauts could produce radiation-resistant bricks from materials available locally on Mars, and use them to build shelters. They might, for example, combine the sand-like "regolith" that covers the Martian surface with a polymer made on-site from carbon dioxide and water, both abundant on the red planet. Zapping this mixture with microwaves creates plastic-looking bricks that double as good radiation shielding" (Sheila Thibeault, a scientist at NASA's Langley Research Center)
Frassanito and Associates, Inc.
2002
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