FROM MOON DUST TO MOON HOME: (Testing Regolith Concrete for Space Habitats)
Physics and Astronomy- Grade:
- 7
- Teacher:
- Karen Maninang
As space agencies plan for long-term human presence on the Moon, developing safe and sustainable construction materials is critical. Transporting building materials from Earth is extremely costly, so future lunar habitats must rely on in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). Using materials already available on the Moon. Lunar regolith (Moon soil) is abundant, but its structural properties must be improved to withstand impact forces, mechanical stress, and weight-bearing demands. This project investigated how reinforcing simulated lunar regolith affects its mechanical strength and durability. Four regolith mixtures (Mix A–D) were first prepared and screened using drop and crumble tests to identify the strongest baseline composition. Mix A demonstrated the highest durability and lowest material degradation during initial testing and was therefore selected for optimization following an engineering design process. An Enhanced Mix A was developed by incorporating additional reinforcing materials to improve particle bonding and structural integrity. The enhanced material was then subjected to advanced mechanical testing, including drop tests from heights of 1 m, 2 m, and 3 m; a load test supporting up to 9 pounds; and quantitative force measurements using a Neulog Force Plate Logger to record peak impact forces. Results demonstrated that impact force increased with drop height, yet the enhanced material maintained structural integrity and resisted catastrophic failure. The load test confirmed significant weight-bearing capacity before fracture, and crumble testing showed minimal surface degradation. The findings support the hypothesis that reinforcing regolith-based materials improves impact resistance and load-bearing performance. This project demonstrates how an engineering optimization process—screening, selecting, enhancing, and retesting can produce stronger construction materials from locally available resources. The results have implications for future lunar habitat design and contribute to the broader goal of developing sustainable off-Earth infrastructure.
This is an outstanding piece of research that meets the standards of a professional engineering inquiry. Your focus on In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) is incredibly relevant to the future of space exploration. I was particularly impressed by your use of sensor-based force data to validate the load-bearing capacity of your regolith concrete, this adds a layer of quantitative rigor that is excellent to see. Your work doesn’t just identify a problem; it provides a data-driven path toward building homes on other worlds. Congratulations on a brilliant project
Fantastic work on lunar regolith! Your methodology was strong, and you did a great job executing your project. The multiple graphs made your results clear and easy to understand. I can’t wait to see how your future research ideas turn out. Excellent work!