A more in-depth exploration of the Solar System would be impossible without extensive use of robots and local resources. You can’t get much from Earth, so almost everything involved in building and maintaining bases will have to be found locally, including the self-reproduction of robots. NASA is working on this concept and has made significant progress in creating the machines and the basic principles of their operation.

In a series of scientific studies, the first of which was published in the journal Science RoboticsA group of NASA engineers described how three primitive robots could autonomously build protective and service structures. Robots do not have computer vision, lidar or radar. They focus solely on touch, following the number and configuration of foundation blocks placed in the structure. One robot brings the blocks to the construction site, the second hands them to the construction machine, which stacks them on top of each other according to a pre-compiled program.

In this case, primitiveness is necessary for works to reproduce each other, far from advanced production. And the simpler it is, the more reliable the result. But still ahead. At this stage of research, NASA experts developed the configuration of the basic building element – something similar to a children’s constructor’s cube. Reinforced plastic-reinforced “cubes” are easily connected to each other (and disconnected as needed). Such foundation blocks can and will need to be made on site to avoid transport to thirty-nine countries.

NASA called the basic blocks “voxels.” 256 units were produced to test the concept. Each is extremely light and strong due to its size and density of 0.0103 g/cm³. A truss made of blocks in a 3×3 configuration can withstand a load of more than 90 kg. The total weight of the 256 blocks, including the three backpacks in which they were placed, was approximately 18 kg. During a field trip, engineers built a shelter, a boat, and even a bridge to cross the river from these blocks.

World-famous American scientist John von Neumann introduced the concept of space exploration using the “zero mass” policy, which was behind his time. In the 80s of the last century, his ideas were developed by the American engineer Robert A. Freitas Jr. Developed by. In his presentation, an interstellar spaceship would need to fly to the nearest star system, collect the necessary resources there and continue on its way. Today NASA is not only developing the metamaterials required for this, a simple example would be basic building blocks.

But NASA has a more urgent mission. As you know, a new moon landing is planned in the south pole region of the satellite. To organize direct line-of-sight communications, the antenna will need to be raised higher. It will also be necessary to install solar farms because the pole is not sufficiently illuminated by the sun. Ideally, the height of the trusses should reach 100 m. The agency is studying the issue of the optimal way to build such tower structures, using the example of foundation blocks developed by NASA engineers.