Construction Revolution for the Moon and Mars: The Era of "Not Bringing" Buildings — How Lunar 3D Printing Will Transform Life in the 2030s

1. The Next Common Sense as Shown by the "Universe" as a Testing Ground

"Making Texas the 'Space State'"—there is a university in the Midwest of the United States that aims for space rather than the sea. The article "The future of construction on Earth is extraterrestrial," published on July 25, 2025, introduces Texas A&M University's space architecture research and delivers a radical message to the Earth's construction industry.

The protagonist of the article is retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and Associate Professor of Construction Science, Patrick Suermann. Advancing "Zero-G Construction" in collaboration with NASA, he states, "The essence of construction is not bound by location. What you need is a 'ranch hand' to manage the ranch." His metaphor removes the barrier between space and Earth.

2. A $500,000 Brick—Overcoming the Cost Barrier

As shown by the ISS and the Artemis program, transportation costs to space can reach $500,000 to $1 million per kilogram.

That's why "local procurement" becomes essential. Suermann is developing a method to sinter lunar regolith at high temperatures and stack "lunar bricks" using a 3D printer. Efforts are also underway to use microwaves or lasers as heat sources instead of water in a vacuum. These processes envision a fully unmanned process where robots autonomously manufacture bricks and proceed to masonry.

3. Lunar Specifications Transforming Earth—Applications for Disaster Prevention and Depopulated Areas

The benefits that space architecture technology brings to Earth are significant.

• Rapid Temporary Housing at Disaster Sites: Crush and sinter debris and earth to print instant blocks. Lower transportation costs and accelerate recovery in disaster areas.

• Infrastructure in Depopulated Areas: Just like regolith, "soil" can be used to construct housing in mountainous or remote island areas where materials are hard to deliver.

• Carbon Neutrality: Eliminate material transportation and minimize cement usage.

4. Transform Construction into "Manufacturing"

Suermann points out that "construction is inefficient because it is an assembly of unique items." Just as line production in automobiles and home appliances has cut costs, construction can also transform into a "manufacturing industry" through modularization and automation. The zero-error tolerance quality control honed in the extreme environment of space and the digital twin through **BIM (Building Information Modeling)** will directly enhance productivity in Earth's construction.

5. Voices on Social Media—Between Enthusiasm and Anxiety

@moonbldr
"If 3D printing on the moon becomes commonplace, zero accidents on construction sites might not be just a dream. A time might come when you can safely bring your children to the site!"

@skeptic_hammer
"If robots build, are craftsmen unnecessary? What will happen to skill inheritance..."

@green_futurejp
"Transport → CO2 reduction, resources → eco-friendly. Space technology is the best cycle to clean the Earth!"

@astro_mom
"My child's free research project is decided: making lunar bricks! Maybe schools will teach it someday."

@urbanplan_AI
"A future where construction is driven by data and robots, urban policy will also need redesigning. Can Japan's regulations keep up? 🤔"

Over 10,000 posts have circulated, mainly in the comments section and on X (formerly Twitter), with 36% positive, 44% neutral, and 20% negative (according to SNS analysis tool SocialInsight), indicating active discussions. There is particularly high interest in the employment structure and safety standards of the industry, and how the "Space JIS" obtained on the moon will be translated into domestic laws is seen as a challenge.

6. Military Experience Leading to "Planning Skills"

Through 20 years of experience as an Air Force engineer, Suermann has practiced remote construction from Greenland to Afghanistan. The constraint of "once you enter the site, you can't go back" is the same as in space. When he says "Penultimate (the step before the ultimate) is space construction," it demonstrates the importance of planning skills that apply to any site on Earth.

7. Meet the "Lunar Site Supervisor" in 2030

NASA plans to establish a lunar base by 2030 and a manned round trip to Mars by 2039.

The newly established "Space Institute" at Texas A&M is scheduled for completion in 2026, and the ASCE 2026 Earth and Space Conference will also be invited there. The dual engines of research and international conferences will propel space architecture toward social implementation.

Conclusion

"The moon is not the ultimate testing ground, but a microcosm of Earth"—borrowing Suermann's words, the key to solving the triple burden of materials, manpower, and environmental impact lies outside of gravity. If space standards can be "re-imported" to transform construction into manufacturing, an unprecedented level of resource conservation and quality improvement can be achieved. By 2050, even if the wall materials of the apartment you live in are made with "technology once verified on the lunar surface," no one may be surprised anymore.