A new system for off-Earth construction has received a significant funding boost.
NASA awarded ICON, a Texas-based company $57.2 million to support its mission. Project OlympusThe company is developing technology to allow mankind to construct outposts on Mars and the Moon using locally available dirt, rock, and other materials.
“To transform the space exploration paradigm, from ‘there’ and back again to ‘there’, we will need robust, resilient systems that can take advantage of the local resources. The moon Jason Ballard, ICON CEO and co-founder Jason Ballard stated that the company is open to other planet bodies.
“We are happy that our research and engineering has proven that such systems exist, and we look forward making that possibility a real reality,” he said.
Related: How would it feel to live on the moon
ICON is a leader in the application of advanced construction technologies on Earth. ICON is the pioneer in the use of advanced construction technologies here on Earth. 3D-printed home in the United States, 2018 and has since delivered entire communities in the U.S. as well as in Mexico.
Project Olympus, which was founded by the company in 2020, was designed to help build crucial infrastructure like roads and landing pads on the moon. Mars. ICON has already produced a prototype of sorts — a simulated 3D-printed Red Planet habitat called Mars Dune Alpha (opens in a new tabNASA will use it to train astronauts for long-duration space missions.
NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research program awarded the contract to ICON. It will allow the company to improve its technology and procedures. ICON will use the money to study how lunar soil (or regolith) reacts to lunar gravity with simulated samples and real ones that were brought back by the agency. Apollo Missions, representatives of companies said.
It will also test its software and hardware on a space mission that simulates lunar gravitation. If all goes according to plan, there will be an even bigger trial.
Ballard stated that the final deliverable from this contract would be humanity’s first building on another planet. (He didn’t go into any further detail.
NASA’s interest is not surprising in lunar construction systems. Artemis programThe space agency is working towards establishing a long-term, sustainable human presence around the moon by 2020.
The first Artemis mission. Artemis 1The Orion capsule was launched into orbit on Nov. 16 by the uncrewed Orion spacecraft. Orion will return to Earth on December 11 with an ocean splashdown.
Niki Werkheiser from NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate stated that in order to explore other planets, we need to develop innovative technologies that can adapt to these environments and our exploration needs. “We will have the capability we need to continue our future missions if we push this development forward together with our commercial partners.”
Mike Wall is author of “There is more (opens in a new tab” (Grand Central Publishing 2018, illustrated by Karl Tate) A book about the search of alien life. Follow him on twitter @michaeldwall (opens new tab). Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom (Opens in a new tab Or on Facebook (opens new tab).