The Romans systematized entire territories, with roads, agricultural works and civil engineering, and cities that some last until today, and they made the difference between development and underdevelopment for North Africa or the nearby areas East, despite the desert or harsh climate. Not far in the future, their ideas may be used to colonize Mars, scientists say.
In a recent study published in the journal Acta Astronauticaresearchers Iranians from Tehran’s Kharazmi University, all members of the civil engineering department, argue that a Roman-inspired method may be the key to durable and stable constructions that form the foundation of future Martian cities. .
It is cement created with the help of local resources (regolith), to which will be added, as eccentric as it sounds, the urine of the astronauts. This practice was known from the time of the Romans, add the authors of the study, who emphasize that the engineers of those times added organic additives (blood and urine of animal origin) to the construction materials, to increase their resistance
A building on Mars must be built in a completely different way than what is done on Earth
On Mars, Iranian engineers say, the construction of a building will be completely different from the way it is done on Earth. Such buildings must face low atmospheric pressure, a bombardment of ultraviolet radiation and, last but not least, a lack of water. All of these issues can affect the durability of a building.
In another time, but on a huge scale, this is what the engineers and craftsmen of the Roman Empire did in North Africa, where Tunisia, for example, became a reference point of development as a city and civil works, since Antiquity. The difference between the development of the road network between Tunisia and other countries in the region, Egypt or Algeria, remains today, after thousands of years.
Back to the study of Mars, the first astronauts who arrived on the red planet had to make do with the local resources at their disposal. Perhaps the most important thing is energy. And since a nuclear power plant will certainly not be among the first projects, given the huge amount of resources needed, solar energy will be the most ready source in the first part of the project.
Water exists, but it is concentrated, for the most part, in the area of ​​the poles. It is therefore imperative that building materials require as little water as possible.
AstroCrete, space cement made without water
Starting from these observations, the authors of the study state that they have analyzed absolutely all the data provided by the space probes, the terrains, and even the rovers that have ever reached Mars. Based on the information provided by them, the specialists in Tehran have identified 11 types of cement that can be created with the help of the Martian regolith, according to its composition.
The link, in his opinion, will be provided by serum albumin, a substance that ensures the normal distribution of fluids in our body and is found, among others, in blood, urine or tears.
Of the 11 types of cement identified, including geopolymer blends and magnesium silicate, the study’s authors believe that a sulfur-based cement appears to hold the most promise at this time.
As indicated from the beginning of the study, their solution is one to help in the first stages of colonization. In the long run, future settlers will surely discover other local resources that will allow them to expand their colonies. Thus, they conclude, more studies of the Martian environment and resources are urgently needed.
