AIM4Mars - Innovative materials for life on Mars
A project on innovative materials for stays on Mars is currently being carried out by Sophie Gruber, MSc at the Department of Materials Technology as part of her dissertation. Under the supervision of Prof. Roman Lackner, Sophie Gruber is investigating how the necessary resources can be used efficiently to produce robust and durable building materials and thus enable longer stays on Mars.
Optimisation through simulation of the Martian environment
An average temperature of -63°C, only 1% of the Earth's atmospheric pressure and an atmosphere consisting of 95% CO2 are just some of the extraordinary requirements that have to be met on Mars.
By applying space technology performance criteria and established test methods, innovative research approaches to resource-saving buildings and the recycling of building materials are being developed. Conversely, the aim is also to open up areas of application on Earth and investigate new types of materials with spin-off potential.
At the NanoLab of the Materials Technology department, building materials will be developed by simulating the Martian environment and their potential use on Mars will be tested. In particular, the combination of analytical and mechanical investigations will provide a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms with the aim of improving the strength and durability of building materials.
In addition, the test results will serve as input data for numerical calculations of living spaces. On this basis, possible designs of living spaces in the harsh environment on Mars will be developed and evaluated.
Worth knowing February 2023
In the current issue of the University of Innsbruck's Wissenswert Magazin, Sophie Gruber talks about her practical and hands-on experiences as part of her degree programme.
The Austrian Space Forum (ÖWF) and Skava consulting as co-operation partners
The Austrian Space Forum (ÖWF) has already carried out 13 Mars mission simulations in various deserts and Mars-like areas (e.g. ice caves). The co-operation should lead to new innovative approaches in the development of building materials on the basis of space technology considerations and standards.
Another cooperation partner of the AIM4MARS project is the engineering company SKAVA consulting, which specialises in engineering geological, geotechnical and tunnel construction consulting and planning services for above-ground and underground structures.
The research work at the University of Innsbruck was financially supported by the Province of Tyrol.
