NASA recently announced top 3 designs for its 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge.
NASA’s 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge began in 2015, with the goal to create sustainable shelters that could one day shelter humans on the surface of the Moon or even Mars. The multimillion-dollar contest was structured in phases, each with multiple levels.
SEArch+ and Apis Cor have won first place, Zopherus of Arkansas took second and Mars Incubator of Connecticut are placed third. These top three designs are awarded a share of the $100,000 prize purse.
First Place
SEArch+ and Apis Cor plans to build twisted, tower-like “Mars X House” on Mars before humans arrive to live in them. They consider building Mars X House by AI-powered robots using indigenous Martian materials.
Second Place
Design of Zopherus was simpler; and they plan to construct the structures using a roving 3D printer.
Third Place
Connecticut group Mars Incubator came up with a modular design having four distinct spaces, one of which includes space to grow plants for food.
