Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras are working on groundbreaking solutions for extraterrestrial construction, developing materials that could one day support human settlements on Mars.
A research team from the institute’s Extraterrestrial Manufacturing (ExTeM) group has created a novel waterless concrete, designed to withstand the harsh Martian environment while conserving precious resources.
Building on Mars without water
While global space agencies focus on transporting heavy payloads, IIT Madras is tackling the fundamental challenge of survival on Mars. The ExTeM team has engineered a concrete that does not require water, a scarce commodity on the Red Planet.
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“We developed concrete using sulphur, which is abundant on Mars,” said Adithya Plato Sidharth, a post-doctoral researcher at ExTeM, reported India Today. “The material meets Earth’s standards without using precious Martian water.”
Testing in microgravity
To further space research, the team has also built the world’s fourth-largest microgravity drop tower. This facility helps study material behaviour in zero gravity and test metal foams for meteorite impact protection.
Beyond construction
The ExTeM team’s research extends beyond construction, encompassing zero-gravity welding, 3D printing, and even bioprinting. Their projects include next-generation optical fibers and experiments in biomanufacturing, which could one day allow for the creation of human organs in space.
Professor Sathyan Subbiah, who leads the initiative, emphasised the broader impact of their research. “Our goal is to use space resources, reducing Earth’s supply chain dependency,” he told India Today.
As India expands its footprint in space exploration, innovations from IIT Madras could play a crucial role in sustaining human life beyond Earth — while also driving technological advancements back home.
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(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)
