University of Sydney

Astronauts will soon be able to build larger and more complex space stations using technology developed by a Sydney University scientist.

Combining his research in chemistry and physics, Alexey Kondyurin has found a way to manufacture large-scale construction materials in space. Until now, space projects have been restricted by the size of the materials available for building.

"The size and complexity of the current International Space Station is limited by the size of the space capsules which transport the steel pieces into space," said Dr Kondyurin, a Russian-born research fellow in the School of Physics. "My research could lead to giant, stable frames for scientific stations."

Dr Kondyurin has developed a polymer liquid resin which, like glue, hardens during a chemical reaction. When combined in space with large pieces of inflatable textile, it solidifies, producing a stable structure solid enough to use in buildings.

"A 100-metre long textile can be folded into a 10-metre space capsule. Once in space, it is inflated using gas and combines with the polymer resin to form a strong, cylindrical frame 100 metres in length with a 10-metre diameter," explained Dr Kondyurin. In July this year, he received a Russian Federation of Astronautics award at the Committee on Space Research Scientific Assembly in Beijing for his work on polymerisation.

Part of the technology involves creating a resin viscous enough to withstand the rapid evaporation that occurs in a space vacuum. All matter evaporates in space - steel takes hundred of years, while water takes only minutes. The polymer liquid resin developed by Dr Kondyurin evaporates slowly and is therefore durable.

His research may even bring humans one step closer to living on Mars.

"In order to exist there we need a large life support system - a building, for example, which can include areas for people, soil, plants, and animals. So far there has been no structure large and solid enough to support life. The technology I have developed might offer such a structure," he explained.

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Editor's Note: Original news release can be found here.