A team from the University of Delaware has developed a lunar cement alternative that survived six months on the International Space Station (ISS) and demonstrated increased strength in some tests. The findings, published on July 8, 2026, indicate promising potential for building infrastructure on the moon.
Geopolymers: A Sustainable Solution for Lunar Construction
The primary challenge in lunar construction is the lack of supply yards and the prohibitive costs of transporting materials from Earth. Researchers have identified lunar regolith, a clay-like silicate material, as an abundant resource for construction. Norman Wagner, Unidel Robert L. Pigford Chair in chemical engineering, stated, "Regolith is essentially a clay-like silicate material. It is one of the most abundant materials on both Earth and the moon, which makes it interesting for construction."
Wagner's laboratory has developed geopolymers, which bind clays into a solid through chemical reactions rather than high-temperature manufacturing. This method aims to utilize regolith with minimal additives, allowing for construction materials that require less energy-intensive processing.
Successful Testing in Space Conditions
To evaluate the performance of these geopolymers, the UD team sent thin plates made from simulated lunar and Martian regolith to the ISS as part of NASA's MISSE-20 mission. The study, published in Advances in Space Research, revealed that the geopolymers did not deteriorate and, in some cases, exhibited higher strength after being exposed to the harsh conditions of low Earth orbit.
