NASA Has Awarded ICON $57.2M to Develop 3D Printed Construction on the Moon

Though ICON may be well known for its 3D printed construction projects here on Earth, the company is also reaching for the stars. Literally in this case. In a recent press release, the company has announced that NASA has awarded it $57.2 million in order to develop a lunar surface construction system. This latest award builds upon previous NASA and Department of Defense funding for ICON’s Project Olympus to research and develop space-based 3D printing construction systems for exploration on the Moon. It is expected to result in humanity’s first-ever construction on another planetary body.

For quite some time now, NASA has been looking towards the possibility of not just reaching other planetary bodies, but of actually inhabiting them. However in order to do so, it is necessary first to develop innovative technologies that will make it feasible. Unsurprisingly, additive manufacturing has been one of those highlighted especially for construction in space. There are a number of current projects that are aiming to allow for the 3D printing of buildings on both the Moon and Mars in the coming years. Indeed, through the Artemis program, which recently held its first successful launch, the Moon is expected to be the first off-Earth site for sustainable surface exploration. A project that requires a sustainable presence there.

This award will allow ICON to continue development on a solution that could be used to build infrastructure, including habitations, on the Moon (photo credits: ICON)

Jason Ballard, ICON co-founder and CEO, noted the importance of innovation notably through 3D printing for this project. He commented, “To change the space exploration paradigm from ‘there and back again’ to ‘there to stay.’ we’re going to need robust, resilient, and broadly capable systems that can use the local resources of the Moon and other planetary bodies. We’re pleased that our research and engineering to-date has demonstrated that such systems are indeed possible, and we look forward now to making that possibility a reality. The final deliverable of this contract will be humanity’s first construction on another world, and that is going to be a pretty special achievement.”