concreting in space

Forum: SSI-List
Thread: concreting in space

# 17917 byFrank on Aug. 7, 2003, 6 a.m.
Member since 2022-08-22

hello,

I am wondering how to concrete in space.

For instance the walls for a Bernal Sphere.

As I see it, we would have to get a temperature above frost limit for
the concrete to bind.

That would make a near sun location my first choice were it is
possible, to use direct sun irradiation to heat up the concrete. For
instance using black painted forms for the parts of a bernal sphere
and than place it in a appropriate distance to sun to get the positive
overall temperature .

But what about mixing sand and beton? How to hold sufficient pressure
in the form-parts in an no gravity/ micro gravity environment?

Would artificial gravity through rotation be enough to get this job
done since the concrete wouldnt have enough contact to the
rotating form or mixing drum when pouring the material into them.

I am assuming that material is used from Near Earth Asteroids and
cheap extraction of ore/regolit and transporting problems are solved
through the use of solar sails.

Regards

Frank