Building the Future on the Moon: Tulane Students Pioneer Lunar Cement with NASA
The Tulane University School of Science and Engineering (SSE) recently highlighted an ambitious student-led research project that could fundamentally change how humans build structures in space. Students Zack Herbst and Charlie Goldstein sat down and shared their journey developing "lunar cement," a sustainable construction material designed for use on the Moon.
The project began when Zack, a senior Earth Science major, became interested in space mining and the byproduct known as lunar regolith. He realized that the chemical properties of lunar soil are remarkably similar to certain industrial waste products used to create cement on Earth.
To turn this idea into a reality, Zack collaborated with Charlie, a sophomore Earth Science and Business major, and teammates Sebastian Powers (Earth Science and Philosophy) and Luke Wheeler (Engineering Physics). Guided by mentors like Professor Keena Kareem and Professor Cynthia Ebinger, both from the Earth and Environmental Sciences department, and Dr. Noshir Pesika of the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department, the team combined their diverse expertise to tackle the unique challenges of extraterrestrial construction.
The team initially planned to create a geopolymer cement. However, the strict safety rules of the NASA competition prohibited the hazardous basic solutions required for that method. Demonstrating the adaptability essential to high-level research, the students pivoted to a "pozzolanic" cement. This alternative method uses a small amount of traditional binder (Ordinary Portland Cement) mixed with water and lunar regolith.
This approach was inspired by ancient Roman engineering techniques. By utilizing resources already present on the lunar surface, the team's method could reduce the weight of materials transported from Earth by 70% to 80%. This efficiency represents a potential savings of millions of dollars in launch costs.
Beyond the technical achievements, the project provided the students with invaluable professional experience. The team wrote a full-length project proposal to NASA standards and successfully secured a Faculty-Mentored Undergraduate Research Grant (CELT Grant), through Tulane to fund their work.
Charlie noted that the experience offered a realistic preview of post-undergraduate research, including the immense effort required to secure funding. Zack emphasized that the smaller department size at Tulane allowed them the freedom to lead their own research, a rare opportunity for undergraduate students.
Although the project has shifted away from microgravity testing after the competition concluded, the research continues. The team is currently analyzing the microstructure and material strength of their Earth-based analogs. As Zack prepares for graduation and further studies, Charlie is stepping into a leadership role to ensure the project’s continuity. They hope to involve more students in the future, maintaining the project as a staple of the SSE research community.
