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Architecture Firm and ESA To 3D Print Building On the Moon
An anonymous reader writes "Internationally acclaimed architecture firm Foster + Partners built the Hearst Tower, the Millennium Bridge, and the Gherkin here on earth — and now they're setting their sights on outer space with plans to produce a 3D printed building on the moon. Today the firm announced that it has partnered with the European Space Agency to develop a lunar base for four people that can withstand the threat of meteorites, gamma radiation and temperature fluctuations. Since transporting building materials to space is a challenge, the team is considering using on-site 3D printing as a solution."
NASA isn't so convinced; that's why they're testing an inflatable module for the ISS.
You don't need structural strength in microgravity, and Bigelow claim their inflatable modules offer more radiation and ballistic protection than rigid cans. No idea about the "more points of failure" part - I'd have thought an inflatable structure would be simpler though. Do you have citations?
Why would anyone engrave "Elbereth"?
The ESA site has a little more info that the sites linked in the summary.
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/Building_a_lunar_base_with_3D_printing