Figuring out how astronauts could live comfortably on Mars is a great challenge. They'll either need to bring materials with them, or make use of the planet's terrain to build settlements. 3D printing seems to be the practical solution, but Malaysian designers Warith Zaki and Amir Amzar think they have a better alternative: locally grown bamboo.
The idea seems far-fetched, but why not? Bamboo has been utilized by humans for centuries. It has a high strength-to-weight ratio and can withstand Mars' harsh weather conditions. According to experts, the plant is very likely to thrive on the red planet because CO 2 in its atmosphere is abundant.
So, how can we build a bamboo colony on Mars? As Dezeen points out, the concept, named Seed of Life, would require astronauts to land and find underground frozen ice for water. Once ice is found, a self-deploying ETFE structure containing bamboo shoots would be sent. After that, a drill would break into the ice and supply the plants with water.
Fully grown bamboo would be removed from the growth chamber, cut, and weaved around the ETFE structure by robots. Finally, the plants would be pumped with water, which would freeze under Mars' extreme temperature, to provide a second layer of protection against radiation.
What do you think of this concept? Is it convincing?
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