The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is working on one of its biggest science programme in the next few years. The space agency is building igloos on the Moon. Robots and 3D printers will be sent to the Moon to build the igloos. The space scientists will also use lunar soil and other material to build these 'lunar habitats', as they are called. Scientists are hoping these igloos contribute to their plans of creating outposts on the Moon. The project has seen progress with a working model which was created using a 3D printer.

Talking about the project, The Times of India quoted Isro Satellite Centre (Isac) director M Annadurai as saying, "We are seriously planning to use the Moon as an outpost - like missions in Antarctica. In the long run, the space station is likely to be scrapped. Many countries, including the US, are considering building more permanent structures on the Moon and working out of there. When it happens, we want India to have contributed."

He also said that astronauts going to Moon in the future will spend more than just a few hours. He added, "To keep them safe and help them work from there, we need smart materials, which is what we are focusing on building."

Annadurai further adding said that they have mastered the process of creating the material that is equal to the properties of lunar soil. He said that its properties match 99.6% with the samples brought by Apollo missions from the Moon. They currently have 60 tonnes of it.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 26, 2018 09:45 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).