NASA is planning to build house on the Moon
The American space agency NASA has embarked on an ambitious plan that could potentially redefine human habitation beyond Earth. According to a report from the British newspaper Daily Mail, NASA has unveiled its vision to construct a house on the Moon by the year 2040.
This groundbreaking project is not limited to astronauts but extends its invitation to civilians as well, marking a significant step in humanity’s quest to expand its presence beyond our home planet.
To bring this lunar dwelling to life, NASA has awarded a substantial $60 million contract to a construction technology company. The key to this lunar construction endeavor lies in cutting-edge technology: a massive three-dimensional printer.
This printer will be transported to the Moon, where it will utilize lunar concrete crafted from a unique blend of rocks, mineral fragments, and lunar dust.
With this lunar concrete, the printer will lay the foundation for the Moon’s first human-made structure, creating a remarkable feat in extraterrestrial architecture.
But NASA’s lunar house project isn’t a solitary venture. The agency is actively collaborating with universities and private companies to design and fabricate the finer details of this lunar abode.
From doors to tiles and furniture, every aspect of the lunar house is being carefully crafted to ensure its functionality and comfort.
This collaborative effort emphasizes NASA’s commitment to creating a habitable space that offers both practicality and comfort for its future inhabitants.
Furthermore, NASA’s visionary agenda extends beyond just the Moon. The agency is looking ahead to the possibility of human colonization on the Red Planet, Mars.
To support this vision, they are actively working on establishing a foundation on Mars, providing a potential home for space competition winners and astronauts who may someday call the Martian surface their new abode.
One of the driving forces behind this lunar construction is the technology company ICON, headquartered in Austin, Texas.
ICON secured a NASA contract in 2022, leveraging its expertise in 3D printing technology on Earth to build lunar luxury homes layer by layer.
This revolutionary approach utilizes a mixture of cement, sand, and water as the building material, with each component of the house, such as walls and roofs, being separately 3D-printed before assembly.
What’s particularly remarkable about this lunar construction method is its incredible speed. The 3D printer can create an entire lunar property in less than 48 hours.
ICON has been at the forefront of 3D printing technology since 2018 and has already successfully built over 100 homes in North Austin.
This rapid construction method holds immense potential, not only for lunar colonization but also for addressing housing crises on Earth.
As with any pioneering project, the plans for lunar housing are still in their infancy, with only conceptual renderings available to offer a glimpse of what these lunar homes might look like.
Over the next decade, the concept may evolve further, refining the vision of lunar habitation.
One intriguing aspect yet to be disclosed is the fee NASA will charge civilians for the privilege of residing in these lunar homes, a detail that will likely spark much interest and anticipation as we look toward a future where the Moon may become a second home for humanity.