NASA's Lunar Melting Plan to Pave the Way for Mars Base

NASA's Moon to Mars Planetary Autonomous Construction Technology (MMPACT) team is preparing for the first construction projects on a planetary body beyond Earth. To avoid the high cost of shipping material from Earth, the team plans to use the regolith that's already there, turning it into a paste that can be 3D printed into thin layers or different shapes. The team's first off-planet project is tentatively scheduled for late 2027. The MMPACT team has to make their own synthetic versions of lunar regolith to make it into a building material strong enough and durable enough to protect human life.