The Article Below details a possible way to exploit the LAVA TUBES on MARS, this article was published on Zonodo.org on December, 14 2016. You cab access the paper via the link below:
Authors: Cowley, Aidan; Imhof, Barbara; Teeney, Leo; Waclavicek, Rene’; Spina, Francesco; Canals, Alberto; Schleppi,Juergen; Soriano, Pablo Lopez (ESA ADVANCED CONCEPTS TEAM)
We detail the overall structural architecture for a Class III Mars habitat intended for human exploration missions, constructed utilizing a robust and simple \textit{in-situ} resource utilization (ISRU) approach we have termed `lava casting’. The habitat concept is based on a hybrid approach, with structural elements of a central habitat arriving from Earth conventionally, while an additive manufacturing (AM) process is used \textit{in-situ} to expand the central habitat workspace using locally sourced construction material, namely Martian regolith soil and sand. The construction process is outlined, with the advantages of our approach elucidated in terms of flexibility, achievability and the ability to provide important protection to surface assets and explorers from the Martian radiation and thermal environment.
Source: An ISRU-Based Architecture for Human Habitats on Mars: the ‘Lava Hive’ Concept
