 
Self-Constructing
Structures
Self-Constructing
Structures
for
the
Moon
and
Mars
CRG’s
goal
is
to
provide
a
prefabricated,
self-constructing
infrastructure
for
future
missions
to
the
moon
and
Mars
to
eliminate
the
labor
burden
of
outpost
construction.
CRG’s
systems
will
survive
landing
stresses
and
reliably
self-construct
without
human
assistance.
Structures
Prefabricated
self-constructing
systems
will
include
a
range
of
structures:
•
Communications
towers
•
Solar
concentrators
•
Laboratories
•
Cabinetry
•
Buildings
•
Tables
and
chairs
•
Tanks
•
Desks
•
Beds
Unlike
inflatable
soft
goods
or
UV-curing
resins,
CRG’s
solution
provides
fully
cured,
rigid
structures
engineered
to
be
rugged
and
reliable
without
using
inflation.
Self-Deploying
Design
The
base
technology
that
enables
this
vision
is
a
versatile
new
material
known
as
Veritex™.
Veritex
is
an
affordable,
fiber-reinforced
shape
memory
polymer
matrix
composite.
This
high
strength-to-weight
ratio
composite
is
manufactured
in
one
shape
and
later
reshaped
as
needed
with
automated
forming
equipment.
A
deployment
system
that
automatically
extrudes
rigid
beams
from
preloaded,
pre-cured
flat
roll
stock
is
in
early
prototype
stages.
Plans
include
communications
towers
that
are
vertically
extruded
and
buildings
that
will
self-construct
as
three-dimensional
structural
systems.
Much
like
origami,
extruding
Veritex
structures
are
engineered
without
folds
along
critical
load
paths.
Engineering
design
and
development
activity
to
demonstrate
feasibility
is
being
funded
by
NASA
under
a
Phase
I
SBIR
contract
entitled
“Self-Erecting
Communications
Infrastructure.”
During
Phase
II,
CRG
will
design
and
demonstrate
the
technology
for
various
moon
and
Mars
mission
opportunities.
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