Using 3D Printing to Conquer Outer Space

Everyone has heard of the Space Race that took place in the 20th century. The battle between the Soviet Union ended in 1975, but did you know a new Space Race has been sparked? This time, scientists all over the world are working to accomplish a variety of goals including working to find a way to colonize other planets and make it suitable for humans to actually live in Outer Space. In order to accomplish this goal, 3D printing is one of the leading technologies being considered for space colonization thanks to its adaptability, cost-effectiveness and of course ability to use local materials, a key necessity if we truly want to move to other planetary bodies. We took a closer look at some of the many different ways additive manufacturing is being used to make it possible to live on the Moon or on other planets in our Solar System.

ICON and NASA Create a 3D Printed Surface Habitat for Mars

In another project to bring us closer to future space exploration, NASA turned towards 3D printing and specifically the expertise of famed 3D printing construction company ICON. In the latest project, which will be taking a look at the possibilities of creating habitats on other planets, the startup has recently announced that it will be 3D printing a simulated Mars Surface Habitat in collaboration with architecture firm BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, which will be the first ever of its kind. Named MARS DUNE ALPHA, the estimated 1,700 square-foot structure is going to be used to simulate a realistic Mars habitat in NASA’s one-year Mars mission analog study. As soon as production is completed, the model will be delivered to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, which is located in Houston, Texas.

Photo Credits: ICON

Life on Mars Through 3D printing?

Since 2014, NASA has been running a competition called the 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge, which aims to imagine structures that could be 3D printed in space to support life on a different planet than on Earth. One of the projects that won awards a few years ago was the MARSHA project, which developed a concept for 3D-printed houses on Mars. The American company AI Spacefactory is behind these cone-shaped structures, which are 34 square meters in size. It would rely on the resources found on the red planet to erect the small houses, thus freeing itself from the constraints of transporting materials from Earth. Finally, MARSHA has been designed with a double-shell system to isolate the habitable spaces from the structural constraints caused by temperature changes on Mars.