GLAMS (Geopolymers for Additive Manufacturing and Lunar Monitoring), a two-year project funded by the Italian Space Agency (ASI), has produced and showcased its first 3D-printed geopolymer samples from lunar regolith at the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Milan in 2024, using the WASP 40100 LDM printer with Manual Feeding System Extruder.
The geopolymer binders, optimized by University of Padua and CNR teams, enable printing of macro-porous structures resilient to lunar extremes including temperature swings (-173°C to 127°C), micrometeorite impacts, reduced gravity, and vacuum, reducing Earth-transport mass by over 90% for semi-permanent bases.
Ark team should monitor GLAMS sensor integration for real-time structural health, pursue licensing of WASP printer tech for Ark habitats, and test regolith simulant prints in Ark vaults by Q4 2026.