Scientists Work to Turn Martian Soil into Concrete
One of the big problems in setting up any habitation on Mars is the need to take everything needed with you on a mission. This requires a lot of rocket fuel and a very large rocket, something that makes an inflatable, lightweight habitat a more ideal scenario. As a result, NASA ran a contest last year for people who could propose designs for 3D printed habitats using resources available on Mars. The goal was clear: it wanted something a little more permanent and durable. Let's see... "permanent," "durable"? Does a certain building material come to mind?
Source: A January 6 posting by Popular Mechanics. Read more.
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association