Captain Kirk called space the final frontier on “Star Trek” in the 1960s. Decades later, humans remain fascinated with outer space and have brought up the possibility of living somewhere beyond Earth. Titan, Europa, and other moons have conditions that could support human life. However, the primary target for scientists has been Mars. And, it appears that life on Mars could come to fruition soon.
Are 3D-Printed Homes on Mars Realistic?
Yes, these homes are realistic, and their plans are already underway.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) held a contest called the 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge, where contestants attempted to create the best living quarters for space. The competition started in 2015 and has been a source of inspiration as NASA looks to conduct more Mars missions this decade and the next.
For these 3D-printed homes, NASA aims to make these structures feel like a home instead of a pod. The astronauts will have to endure the living spaces for a long time. The 3D-printed homes will have the setup of a townhouse. One section of the house will have bedrooms, restrooms, a kitchen, and a recreation area. There will also be a work room next to a robot station and a treatment room.
Another comparison for the home is that it looks like an egg. The shape is optimal because it’ll be easier for the 3D printer to create the structure. The eggshell analogy is apt because the walls will be thin but strong enough to handle the conditions. The construction will consist of an engineered compound containing concrete.
Engineered building materials tend to be incredibly durable, and there are many such “filaments” that can be used in 3D printers. The structure needs rigid flooring and walls that are easy to install and can endure the cold weather on Mars.
Why Is Mars the Focus?
Humans on Earth have been studying Mars for decades. Going back to the 1960s, the Soviets started to probe Mars with flybys. In the 1970s, the Chinese sent the first rover to Mars, but the mission failed. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, the United States sent three rovers, with Opportunity being the most notable of the machines. Opportunity was active for 14 years and helped scientists gain a much better understanding of the Red Planet.
Mars and Venus are the two planets closest to Earth in the solar system. Venus is an unlikely option for traveling because of its intensely toxic and hot atmosphere. Of the planets in our solar system, Mars provides the best chance for scientists to support life outside of Earth.
One of the limiting factors in the past few decades has been time and resources. The average Mars mission costs about $3 billion in funding, so progress has been steady but slow.
When Will the Mars Missions Happen?
The Mars quests are in their preliminary stages as of now. NASA has plans to do an analog mission in the fall of 2022. In this mission, participants will simulate what it’s like to live on Mars while remaining on Earth. The experience will take place at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. There will be three separate one-year missions, and each one will consist of four crew members living in one of these 3D-printed modules. NASA calls them Mars Dune Alpha.
During these simulations, participants will endure the predicted limitations they would face on the Red Planet. For example, they’ll have to deal with limited resources. They’ll mitigate the issue by growing crops inside the module. The astronauts could run into equipment failure or delays in communication, forcing them to be creative in their decision-making. They’ll also do tasks like simulating spacewalks and using virtual reality (VR).
These analog missions aim to help NASA prepare for its goal of putting astronauts on Mars by 2033. This effort comes from the U.S. government’s push to continue space exploration and dive deeper into what Mars offers. The executive branch set the 2033 mark during the Trump administration. That year continues to be the goal, but 2035 or later in the decade is a more realistic approach.
Life on Mars
The Space Race started in the 1950s when the United States launched satellites into orbit, prompting a similar initiative by the Soviet Union. The competition between nations ended in the 1970s, but the innovation continues today. The next big mission appears to be sending humans to Mars. The research and development of 3D printers help make these missions feasible because of their ability to create uniquely mission-capable houses.
