Everything points to the fact that humanity is almost ready for a long stay on the moon. The first Artemis mission is successful, the Orion capsule is delivered to places where humanity has never been before. Now, although we told you some time ago that NASA has plans to establish satellite bases, today has already confirmed a $57.2 million payout for its 3D print.
ICON was chosen by NASA to develop everything needed. Your task will be to research and develop building technologies that allow you to build cockpits, roads and runways with 3D printing. It’s hard work, and given the conditions on the moon, you’ll have to work with basic physics that the construction world isn’t used to.
The contract between NASA and ICON will run until 2028, the agency said on Tuesday. For its part, the company is based in Austin, Texas, and Previously, he worked with projects based on extraterrestrial bodies.. One of them was the construction of a residential complex with an area of 158 square meters on Mars.
His name was Mars Dune Alpha, and NASA I will drink from this project for the Crew Health and Performance Analog (CHAPEA) mission starting in 2023.
NASA’s Artemis mission could have 3D printed lunar stations
As we have noted on other occasions, Project Artemis is the first attempt in the long run to turn humanity into an interplanetary species. So missions to the moon they will serve as a catapult to enable us to reach more distant places., like the long-awaited Mars. In fact, NASA explains it on their website.
“To explore other worlds, we need new innovative technologies given these conditions and our research needs,” said Nicky Werkheiser, Director of Technology Development, NASA’s Office of Space Technology.
“Advancing this development along with our trading partners will create the capabilities needed for future missions.”
Nicky Werkheiser.
The ICON Olympus project is multi-level. It is a conceptual building system that will allow you to build the first settlements using the resources available on the Moon (and Mars, in the future). Of course, we are talking about regolith, the dusty surface of both celestial bodies, which can become material for NASA’s future interplanetary inhabitants.
ICON is getting ready on Earth
On the other hand, ICON has already made a career in the construction world here on Earth. They were in charge of building first 3D printed houses in the US. Now they are taking it to new worlds and completely different conditions.
To develop the necessary building technologies, ICON will work with lunar regolith brought to Earth by the Apollo missions. In addition, we know that NASA is studying how to print on a 3D printer with the gravitational conditions of the moon.
According to the space agency, humans should be able to work on the Moon by 2030, a statement they made after the launch of Artemis I. However, this date may seem too close, and we are accustomed to delays in NASA plans.
Source: Hiper Textual
