Regular construction equipment like cranes and lifts will not be the everyday equipements we will use to construct in space. The focus of everything we need in space will be to 'make-in-space' and not 'take-from-earth' The focus areas will be- 1. Construction technology and equipment 2. Construction materials Construction equipments prospects for space- 1. [Canadian Space Crane](https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/k-4/features/F_Canadian_Crane.html) 2. [Archinaut One](https://madeinspace.us/capabilities-and-technology/archinaut/) 3. Terrestial/ Expendable habitats https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/376398main_Bigelow.pdf & https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/centennial_challenges/3DPHab/about.html Constraints- 1. Should sustain the extreme environements in space (radiation, debris, etc.) Current materials prospects for space- 1. [Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene](https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20160006047) (ABS) 2. 3D printed Graphene (5% density of steel, 200% strength of steel) 3. Aerographite (lightest building material, lighter than Styrofoam) 4. Transparent Aluminium (Alloy Al) (Resistant to corrosion, oxidation and [[Radiation]]) [[Aluminium]] 5. Reinforced concreate with space dust & Light generating concrete 6. Nanocrystals (blocks heat, allows natural light in) 7. Invisible solar cells MATERIALS A. [ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)] Chemical Structure- [[1200px-ABS_Monomers_V3.svg.png]] ABS is derived from *acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene*. Acrylonitrile is a synthetic monomer produced from propylene and ammonia; butadiene is a petroleum hydrocarbon obtained from the C4 fraction of steam cracking; styrene monomer is made by dehydrogenation of ethyl benzene — a hydrocarbon obtained in the reaction of ethylene and benzene. *ABS or Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene* is a common thermoplastic polymer typically used for injection molding applications. This engineering plastic is popular due to its low production cost and the ease with which the material is machined by plastic manufacturers. Better yet, its natural benefits of affordability and machinability do not hinder the ABS material’s desired properties: - Impact Resistance - Structural Strength and Stiffness - Chemical Resistance - Excellent High and Low Temperature Performance - Great Electrical Insulation Properties - Easy to Paint and Glue ABS plastic attains these physical attributes through the initial creation process. By polymerizing styrene and acrylonitrile in the presence of polybutadiene, chemical “chains” attract each other and bind together to make ABS stronger. This combination of materials and plastics provides ABS with superior hardness, gloss, toughness and resistance properties, greater than that of pure polystyrene. View a detailed [ABS Material Data Sheet](http://teststandard.com/data_sheets/ABS_Data_sheet.pdf) to learn more about ABS’s physical, mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. ABS plastic is advantageous in a wide variety of industries; however, certain physical limitations restrict the materials use in certain products and applications. These shortcomings include: - Weatherability (damaged by sunlight) - Solvent Resistance - Hazardous When Burned - Limited Uses in Association with Food Industry - Higher Price Than Polystyrene or Polyethylene B. [3D printed Graphene] #wip C. [Aerographite] #wip D. [[Transparent Aluminium]]