Microbes for space structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11959271-B2
Application number	US-202217696990-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2022
Priority date	Mar 18, 2021
Publication date	Apr 16, 2024
Grant date	Apr 16, 2024

Abstract

A building structure comprising a first film and a second film. The first film and the second film are each impregnated with L-Dopa. The building structure further includes regolith bulk material between the first film and the second film.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A building structure comprising:
a first film and a second film, the first film and the second film each impregnated with L-Dopa; and
regolith bulk material between the first film and the second film.

2. The building structure of claim 1 , wherein the regolith bulk material is lunar regolith bulk material.

3. The building structure of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first film and the second film is a carbon film.

4. The building structure of claim 1 , wherein the first film and the second film are carbon composite films.

5. The building structure of claim 1 , wherein the regolith bulk material comprises carbon, silica, or a combination thereof.

6. The building structure of claim 1 , wherein the regolith bulk material further includes L-Dopa.

7. The building structure of claim 1 , wherein the building structure is an extraterrestrial building structure.

8. A method of fabricating a building component, the method comprising:
impregnating a first film and a second film with bacteria and regolith to form a first impregnated film and a second impregnated film, the bacteria being genetically engineered to produce a bioadhesive;
stacking the first impregnated film on the second impregnated film; and
flowing, under a vacuum, regolith between the first impregnated film and the second impregnated film to form a composite part.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the regolith is lunar regolith.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first film and the second film is a carbon film.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first film and the second film are carbon composite films.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the regolith comprises carbon, silica, or a combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the regolith flowed under the vacuum further includes L-Dopa.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising exposing the first impregnated film and the second impregnated film to heat.

15. A method of fabricating a building component, the method comprising:
impregnating a first film and a second film with a bacteria and regolith to form a first impregnated film and a second impregnated film, the bacteria forming L-Dopa;
exposing the first impregnated film and the second impregnated film to heat;
stacking the first impregnated film on the second impregnated film; and
flowing, under a vacuum, regolith between the first impregnated film and the second impregnated film to form a composite part.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the regolith is lunar regolith.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein impregnating the first film and the second film is performed on a lunar surface.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first film and the second film are carbon composite films.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the regolith comprises carbon, silica, or a combination thereof.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising engineering the bacteria to form L-Dopa.

Assignees

• Raytheon Bbn Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Brown Michael D
• Scott Helen G
• Rogers Miles T
• Rosenthal Benjamin J
• Nicoletti Michael J
• Stusse James J

Classifications

• E04B1/62 Primary

  Insulation or other protection; Elements or use of specified material therefor (chemical compositions C01 - C11; implements for applying insulation or sealings E04F21/00; buildings to withstand, or to provide protection against, external undesired influences E04H9/00; sealing pipes in walls or partitions F16L5/02; shielding against dangerous radiation G21F) · CPC title

• C04B14/022

  Carbon · CPC title

• C04B14/36

  Inorganic materials not provided for in groups {C04B14/022 and} C04B14/04 - C04B14/34 · CPC title

• C04B41/009

  characterised by the material treated · CPC title

• C04B41/46

  with organic materials · CPC title