Jun 28th 2024
This Week in Space 117
A Home on the Moon
3D Printing Lunar Habitats
For decades we've seen images of huge glass domes on the moon and Mars, but the reality of building settlements off-Earth is likely to look much different. This week we're joined by Evan Jensen of ICON Build, a company that, in just a few years, has created housing across Texas via 3D printing. Now, in association with NASA, they are also investing heavily in researching how to 3D print habitats on the moon and one day Mars. It isn't easy working in a vacuum--water freezes and evaporates instantly, and any other materials you need must be transported there. ICON has some unique processes they are testing in their large vacuum chambers, and the results are truly fascinating. Join us for a look into the future of living on other worlds!
Headlines:
- NASA has selected SpaceX for a $843 million contract to de-orbit the International Space Station (ISS) around 2030
- ISS astronauts took shelter after a Russian satellite exploded, creating over 100 pieces of shrapnel
- Boeing's Starliner capsule faces an indefinite delay in its return from the ISS due to technical issues
Feedback:
- Listener Tim Lazaroff suggests two space-themed songs by the group Lord of the Lost
- Rod Pyle addresses inquiries about the decision to de-orbit the ISS, explaining the aging technology and high maintenance costs
Main Topic: 3D Printing for Construction on Earth and Beyond with Evan Jensen
- ICON's founders started the company in 2018 to push the limits of 3D printing technology for construction
- ICON has completed several projects, including the House of Phoenix and a 3D-printed neighborhood in Texas
- Project Olympus aims to use 3D printing for construction on the Moon and Mars, utilizing in-situ resources
- On the Moon, ICON plans to use a laser-directed energy deposition system to melt and solidify lunar regolith
- Challenges of lunar construction include the unsuitability of water in the concrete mix, extreme temperatures, and the need for robotic systems
- ICON is developing lunar regolith simulants and testing robotic systems in their "Moon Box" facility
- Mars construction may involve more traditional materials, but thermal energy deposition could still be viable
- ICON's Vitruvius AI architecture model allows users to design homes based on their preferences and needs
- The company's ultimate goal is to use robotics, automation, and AI to help solve the global housing crisis on Earth while enabling a sci-fi future of extraterrestrial habitation
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