NASA is preparing for a very long journey to send humans to Mars by the 2030s, and like any long long trip, there’s lots of prep involved. Such as, where will the world travelers stay? A trip to the Red Planet will eventually require shelter, and NASA is offering $1.1 million in prize money as part of the 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge for new ways to create sustainable housing solutions where future space explorers can live and work.
Here’s what you need to know:
Phase 1 of the 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge was a competition to design a structure that could be 3D-printed using resources already available on Mars. Completed in 2015, the three design finalists can be viewed here. They’re pretty spectacular! Phase 3 (to be announced at a later date) will focus on 3D-printing fabrication of complete habitats.
“Shelter is an obvious necessity as we prepare to explore worlds beyond our home planet, but space and weight aboard our vehicles are precious, and taken by the many other resources we will need for survival,” said Steve Jurczyk, associate administrator for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. “That’s why we are seeking the technology to reuse the materials we will already be carrying, and combine them with what is already available at our destination, which is, in this case, soil. We recycle here on Earth – why not on Mars?”
The contest has potential immediate practical benefits as well on Earth to produce affordable housing or shelter where access to conventional building materials and skills is limited.
To register and to see the official rules and documents, visit http://bradley.edu/challenge.