Researchers from Great Britain have developed for construction in space similar to a concrete composite, in the production of which uses urine and proteins from the blood of astronauts. The article of scientists is published in the Materials Today Bio magazine.
Delivery of resources For future piloted expeditions to the objects of the solar system, it is extremely expensive – so, it is estimated that transportation on Mars one brick will cost $ 2 million. Therefore, scientists are invited to solve the task of developing new technologies to use in situ resources – in place.
Researchers from the University of Manchester showed that as a binder for a composite from the regolite – the residual soil on the surface of the planet or satellite – can be used in the blood of the cosmonauts Human whey albumin. This protein denatures, as a result of which the so-called β-folded layers, holding the material – a similar process is used in a spray cobweb.
The tensile strength of the material that called the AstroCrete was 25 megapascals – which is comparable to the same indicator at concrete. The inclusion of urea material, which is supposed to be produced from urine, sweat and tears of cosmonauts will allow you to increase this limit of 300 percent, almost up to 40 megapascals.
According to the calculations of the researchers, each cosmonaut will be able to produce 2.5 kilograms of the composite per month, and the expedition from six people in two years of stay can produce 500 kilograms.