Geology Architecture for Mars and Moon Environment: A Lesson from Morocco

Many are the geological lessons that have been learnt from the Moroccan desert. The Ibn Battuta Centre has installed a field facility and organized numerous exploration and field missions related to the Moon and Mars. Morocco can be used as an example of ISRU in an extreme environment. We are investigating the local Moroccan rocks, soils and conducting tests for the creation of planetary settlements on both the Moon and Mars understanding how the study of the past can guide the vision of the future. The first planetary outposts will likely be built telerobotically via ISRU relying on remote sensing. In situ resources will no doubt be combined with modern construction methodologies to innovate. The lessons learnt from Morocco on Earth in terms of ISRU will be applied as we venture onto other planets: exploiting the resources found locally. An ISRU unpressurised building concept is likely to be used as a first outpost shielding a pressurized structure within that will house the astronauts. Lunar rocks such as basalt, pristine rocks, breccias and impact melts are materials that are local and can be used for a lunar outpost utilizing several technics. On Mars, mudstone, sandstone, shale, conglomerates and basalt are amongst the most common and have several applications themselves for the construction of an outpost. Utilizing materials that are local will create a new type of architecture inspired by the possibilities of the indigenous resources.