Can we build skyscrapers on Mars?

From far-out fantasy to rapid development in the field of space exploration, humankind is edging closer to the dream of setting up permanent settlements on Mars. As space agencies like NASA and private companies such as SpaceX pioneer missions to the Red Planet, one interesting question arises: Can we build skyscrapers on Mars?

The concept of skyscrapers on another planet really stands at the junction of bold architecture and is a practical solution to future limitations in space, especially since population growth will necessitate more vertical living arrangements in extraterrestrial environments.

Yet, building skyscrapers on Mars is far from being straightforward. From extreme temperatures to a thin atmosphere and reduced gravity, the Martian environment presents its own particular set of difficulties, not to mention the shortage of building materials.

Gravity, Temperature and the Structural Challenge

One of the first considerations when considering building on Mars is low gravity: just about 38% of Earth’s and objects weigh a lot less. And while that might allow for tall, sprawling structures impossible here on Earth, reduced gravity also brings some problems: materials which act predictably here may not behave so well under Martian conditions.

On Mars, a structure engineered to bear heavy loads on Earth could be over-engineered, but weight redistribution calculations must be performed in order to ensure that the skyscrapers will be able to bear forces exerted by occupants, furniture, and infrastructure combined.

Equally important is Mars’ thin and unbreathable atmosphere, mostly composed of carbon dioxide. Because the atmospheric pressure on Mars is only a fraction of Earth’s, Martian buildings would not be subject to the same forces from wind.

On the other hand, the absence of any significant atmospheric shielding from cosmic and solar radiation presents a serious threat to human life. Every skyscraper would need to be heavily shielded for radiation-much beyond what traditional Earth-based designs would consider. In addition, life support systems like oxygen generation and water recycling would also need to be integrated into the buildings themselves.

Also, Mars fluctuates between temperatures that are beyond anything measurable on Earth. At the equator, temperatures can rise as high as 70°F during the day and then fall to as low as -100°F at night. At polar regions, temperatures can be as low as -195°F. Due to such extreme changes, building materials in these environments would be under nearly continuous expansion and contraction, leading to increased chances of fissures and structural weaknesses.

Resource Utilization: The Role of Martian Regolith

Firstly, it is too expensive to haul construction materials from Earth to Mars, and hence, it is very crucial that as many mission components as possible are fabricated on location, using in-situ resource utilization. Martian regolith covering the ground could be a very useful primary building material.

Already, researchers are investigating ways to develop “Martian concrete” by mixing regolith with sulfur or other Martian minerals and heating to produce a robust construction material. Such a process would greatly reduce the dependence on Earth-based materials and, in the long term could make skyscraper construction practical.

“The key material in a Martian construction boom will be sulfur, says the Northwestern team. The basic idea is to heat sulfur to about 240 °C so that it becomes liquid, mix it with Martian soil, which acts as an aggregate, and then let it cool. The sulfur solidifies, binding the aggregate and creating concrete. Voila—Martian concrete.” states on MIT Technology Review.

3D Printing and Construction

3D printing now offers a new approach to overcoming those construction barriers on Mars. Pioneer research at universities such as Penn State has investigated how that technology might one day transform the process of building on both Earth and Mars. As Professor José Duarte explains, “Mars is quite far away, and while the possibility of sending this technology to space catches the eye, the reality of its uses on Earth are profound.”.

By processing the Martian regolith into construction materials via 3D printing, buildings can be printed layer by layer without ever considering cost or the hustle of doing so. This kind of technology could also be meant for sustainable housing on Earth since it minimizes waste and carbon emissions, hence addressing housing challenges globally while advancing the colonization at Mars.

For example, ICON has created Mars Dune Alpha, a 3D-printed habitat at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Designed in collaboration with BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, this 1,700 square-foot building will help NASA’s CHAPEA program replicate life on the Martian surface through three one-year missions.

Jason Ballard, the co-founder and CEO of ICON, said, “This is the highest-fidelity simulated habitat ever built by humans,” indicative of its importance in preparing astronauts for future Mars missions. The habitat has been very thoughtfully laid out to balance private and common spaces efficiently to ensure crew well-being for long-duration space flights.

Energy and Sustainability

The distance of Mars from the Sun makes solar power less effective, while week-long dust storms further impede the process. For this reason, skyscraper designs should keep in mind compact nuclear reactors and other alternative energy sources in order to ensure a reliable power supply. Amongst the new approaches to nuclear engineering that are presently under development and that could, in the future, supply energy for Martian colonies both for habitable area spaces on the surface as well as those buried underground are small efficient nuclear reactors.

Instead of building only upward into the harsh Martian environment, architects might look underground. Subterranean construction would, in fact, shroud buildings from cosmic radiation and temperature spikes- an end to massive insulation and energy-consuming life-support systems. Hybrid skyscrapers that combine underground levels with surface structures can tap into geothermal energy, creating far more livable space.

Can we build skyscrapers on Mars?

Martian skyscrapers would look pretty different from Earth-based ones, more related to functionality and durability rather than any appeal. The buildings may be designed partly subterranean with dome-like features in order to reduce heat loss, or they might be modular in nature, with an extendable framework to grow with the Martian colonies. Using local resources with novel technologies such as 3D printing, these skyscrapers would achieve the ideals of sustainability and adaptability.

As humanity is pushing further and further beyond the frontiers of space exploration and colonization, so this dream of constructing skyscrapers on Mars draws closer to reality. Yes, monumental challenges range from gravity and atmosphere to temperature and resource availability; nevertheless, they are surmountable. With ground-breaking research and revolutionary engineering, one day skyscrapers on Mars may stand to testify to human genius and our ability to thrive even in very extreme environments.

According to Penn State’s Professor Duarte, “The reality of its uses on Earth are profound.” The technology we will develop for Mars may not just pave the way for extraterrestrial living but give important solutions for Earth’s own architectural problems.