On earth we are used to building houses with concrete, bricks or even wood. But carrying out dwellings on Mars is a major challenge, and NASA looks at other materials, just as effective, but easier to transport.
Among the solutions envisaged by scientists, the American space agency is very seriously looking at a particular project: that of using the urine and the blood of astronauts to build their houses. If such an idea can be stifling, it is, seen in a pragmatic way of formidable efficiency.
These fluids will indeed be created and transported by astronauts during their trip, as much to find them a second life. This is how researchers from the Iranian University of Kharazmi proposed this solution. Helped by colleagues from the University of Manchester, they notably based their studies on the analysis of the construction methods used during Antiquity in Europe.
A earth to earth solution
Because scientists know this better than anyone, the main enemy of the trip to Mars (and other planets) is the weight. Each kilogram of won at takeoff, it is tons of fuel to take less. A routing that has a cost, exorbitant.
Scientists calculated that one brick would cost about $ 2 million to send to Mars. Faced with such a financial constraint, the use of resources available to on -site astronauts is essential. Several studies have already offered to use Martian rock to build solid houses, but this material, friable and dusty, is far from unanimous.
In view of scientists, its only advantage would be its infinite availability. So the researchers looked into other solutions, starting with body fluids. The latter have an undeniable binding power and combined with Martian regolith (dust) and they would be formidable efficiency.
More specifically the scientists set their sights on serum albumin, a protein present in large numbers in human plasma. An idea that seems crazy, but which brings us back to our origins. During Antiquity the Romans already used animal blood to perfect their constructions and link the stone blocks between them.
Obvious ethical questions
Following this design method, scientists estimated that a team of astronauts (of six people) would be able to produce 500 kilograms of “Martian concrete” (also called astrocret). An encouraging result which nevertheless raises essential ethical questions.
Because if the recovery of the plasma and the urine of six astronauts presents no risk for their health, one can quickly imagine an apocalyptic scenario, with “plasma farms” built for the sole purpose of building a new civilization on Mars.
Let us reassure ourselves immediately, we are still far from this vision, but the use of human fluids for constructions on Mars must obviously ask questions, and the scientists themselves question their work and ensure others Solutions to replace this component.
