Haud on, Mars needs astronaut brickies . . .

Science: Red Planet’s soil easily made into building blocks

Astronaut brickies may be needed to set up the first bases on Mars.

The soil of the Red Planet can easily be turned into bricks stronger than steelreinforced concrete, scientists have discovered.

No kiln or special additives are required.

The material is simply squeezed together under pressure to form sturdy blocks ideal for building shelters on the planet’s surface.

In a series of experiments, researchers found tiny particles of iron oxide responsible for the reddish hue of Martian soil acts as a very convenient binding agent. US lead scientist Professor Yu Qiao, from the University of California at San Diego, said: “The people who will go to Mars will be incredibly brave. They will be pioneers.

“And I would be honoured to be their brick maker.”

The discovery is well timed after the US Congress adopted a Bill signed by Donald Trump directing Nasa to aim for a manned mission to Mars in 2033.

There is nothing new in the idea of using Martian soil or rocks to construct surface habitats.

Previous plans have included nuclear-powered brick kilns or complex chemistry to turn organic compounds found on Mars into sticky plastic.

The much simpler process explored in the latest study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, created small round pallets of simulated Martian soil about an inch tall in a flexible tube.

The amount of pressure needed was equivalent to dropping a 10 pound hammer from one metre.

After the pallets were cut into brick shapes, further testing showed them to be more resilient than steelreinforced concrete.

The next step will be to increase the size of the bricks.

Martian soil can make bricks stronger than concrete