Less than a century ago, the first man set foot on the Moon. Soon, you could be living there.
Pictured above: A potentially revolutionary idea to build houses on the moon. Image credits: ICON & BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plans to make this a reality with the goal of creating inhabitable lunar structures by the year 2040. To actualize this idea, NASA has partnered with ICON, an architectural firm that aims to solve the “global housing crisis” by 3D-printing homes.
NASA’s mission through the Artemis Program is to establish a long-term, celestial human presence and to use the Moon as a stepping stone towards their future goals with Mars. With a contract close to $60 million, this radical step in housing will be the abode of the gods; this is ICON’s Project Olympus.
The Plan, the Process, the Problems
NASA plans to send a large-scale 3D printer to the Moon, which will utilize “space ink” and build structures, layer by layer. But, this is not as easy as it sounds.
Why? Firstly, traditional building materials like concrete cannot be used on the Moon. Concrete, although one of the most common building materials here on Earth, is extremely heavy; it would require a lot more rocket fuel and cargo space, which equates to difficult, expensive, and risky space travel. A material like concrete needs water to mix and cure, which is a scarce resource in space. Well, why not something like wood? Definitely not. Due to wood’s porosity and inability to combat the lethal radiation and extreme temperature differences in outer space, it will be the equivalent of living in Antarctica and an active volcano at the same time.
Then where could this magic material be found?
Surprisingly, ICON and NASA plan for this to be an “in situ resource utilization construction system,” meaning that ALL MATERIALS they use to build will be found on the Moon or other celestial bodies. The benefits are countless, but so are the challenges. Although this would mitigate the need for extra fuel and storage for the building materials, it would also pose difficulties in harvesting these materials, studying and testing their ability to withstand the harsh environment, and actually building the structures.
The Golden Printer
According to ICON’s CEO, Jason Ballard, they plan to utilize “a high-powered laser to convert moon dust into building material.” This material will then be used in a space-grade 3D printer that will print buildings one layer at a time. Luckily, ICON is already in the studying and testing phase.
The program plans to fully utilize the materials available on the Moon’s surface, such as dust, rocks, and mineral fragments. These materials are hypothesized to be resistant to the harsh lunar weather and will be used as the “ink” for the 3D printer.
In February, the 3D printer will be tested at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center to determine its efficiency in a vacuum and ability to withstand the radiation as well as fluctuating temperature in space.
One House for Man, a Palace for Mankind
What does this mean for humanity?
In reality, this is a long and slow process. But eventually, it will give scientists the essential boost required to properly study Mars. As the first inhabited celestial body, the Moon will provide insight into the uncharted field of space inhabitation; scientists will be able to experiment with different methods to harvest materials, build, and grow a sustainable extraterrestrial community. Along with the technological and scientific revolution this would incite, it will foster a sense of curiosity among the scientific community to continue the dream of becoming an intergalactic species.