NASA Researchers Develop Laser 3D Printing for Lunar Bases

What Happened Scientists at Ohio State University have successfully demonstrated a laser-based 3D printing process that can create structures using lunar regolith—the fine, dusty material covering the Moon’s surface. Led by Dr. Sarah Wolff and graduate student Sizhe Xu, the research team developed a selective laser melting technique that fuses particles of simulated lunar soil into solid building materials. The process works by using high-powered lasers to heat lunar regolith particles to their melting point, causing them to fuse together layer by layer.