NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge QuoteNASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge seeks to foster development of new technologies to additively manufacture a habitat using local indigenous materials with, or without, recyclable materials, in space and on Earth. In other words, we want America's best and brightest to help us figure out how to build a house on Mars, using advanced 3D printing technology in the most efficient and sustainable way possible. Sound like something you'd see in a movie? Maybe. But, Mars is our next frontier. And the technologies we develop can have applications today, and help advance America's leadership in technology and innovation. Rules etc available at link. Note there are restrictions on non-US teams. Any takers? :) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,738475#msg-738475 Sun, 14 Jun 2026 22:02:12 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,741340#msg-741340 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,741340#msg-741340
Radiation shielding can be avoided by moving underground but once an accident happened causing serious damage, H&S and money arguments would result in an end to the program.]]> GRAYWOLF General Mon, 23 Jan 2017 03:28:06 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,741314#msg-741314 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,741314#msg-741314
[www.designboom.com]
]]> MechaBits General Mon, 23 Jan 2017 00:14:40 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,741252#msg-741252 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,741252#msg-741252 [attachment 89416 MechabitsAstroBugs.jpg]]]> MechaBits General Sun, 22 Jan 2017 16:46:47 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,741179#msg-741179 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,741179#msg-741179
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MechaBits
One day Earth will be like Mars so stay put and start building.

It won't be long, 'cause the earth magnet field turns it's polarity soon as they say. There will be a period where it isn't defined and won't protect us against solar storms.
Then we all live in a yellow submarine B)-]]> o_lampe General Sun, 22 Jan 2017 13:17:32 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,741095#msg-741095 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,741095#msg-741095 MechaBits General Sun, 22 Jan 2017 08:26:20 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,740535#msg-740535 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,740535#msg-740535
]]> MechaBits General Fri, 20 Jan 2017 03:48:18 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739927#msg-739927 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739927#msg-739927 o_lampe General Wed, 18 Jan 2017 07:15:44 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739904#msg-739904 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739904#msg-739904
Any habitat on Mars needs to have good radiation shielding [www.space.com]. "The magnetic field generated by electric currents in the Earth’s liquid iron core extends far into space, shielding the planet from 99.9 percent of harmful radiation. The Earth’s atmosphere provides additional protection, equal to a slab of metal about 3 feet (1 meter) thick." With no magnetosphere and negligible atmosphere, the surface of Mars is bathed in radiation. Equivalent protection is given by 5 meters of Martian soil, which is a lot! There was a suggestion that lava tubes on Mars might make a good habitat.

Going to Mars sounds glamorous, but I think early settlers will be disappointed to find they are living most of the time buried underground.]]> bobc General Wed, 18 Jan 2017 06:20:04 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739843#msg-739843 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739843#msg-739843 the ability to build domes as quick and as simply as this would be amazing...
[www.youtube.com]
not much use in the wind as is but with a modified method/material who knows.]]> MechaBits General Tue, 17 Jan 2017 22:38:05 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739840#msg-739840 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739840#msg-739840
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MechaBits
But you would need something to keep it solid/cold when temps rise above 0.

Unless you build it near the equator (summer temperatures of +20 C) the temps on Mars stay subzero year-round. Hence it won't melt.]]> anvoice General Tue, 17 Jan 2017 22:01:15 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739839#msg-739839 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739839#msg-739839 MechaBits General Tue, 17 Jan 2017 21:48:27 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739836#msg-739836 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739836#msg-739836
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MechaBits
Pity they couldnt make huge ice domes(or with some other goop instead of water), with an inflatable solar balloon as the inside skin....it's below freezing most of the time but your a bit screwed when the temp warms up, unless some other resin/polymer could be produced.

I believe there is a concept whereby the walls could be made with either ice or ice+additives and protected by outer coatings which would prevent evaporation.]]> anvoice General Tue, 17 Jan 2017 21:41:50 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739828#msg-739828 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739828#msg-739828 MechaBits General Tue, 17 Jan 2017 20:50:51 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739197#msg-739197 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739197#msg-739197 Maybe the Termites & Roaches are still there?
But when this planet has a major malfunction time to kiss it all goodbye.
Maybe Earth will self correct(with a lot of help from humans) wipe out humans & start over.

[en.wikipedia.org]



[www.festo.com]
Maybe they just need some magnifying fresnel glasses(or advanced 3D printed lenses) they can sinter with.

If it could also do this it would be helpful [www.extremetech.com]
]]> MechaBits General Mon, 16 Jan 2017 01:30:46 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739190#msg-739190 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739190#msg-739190 Sand-3D-Printer]]> siggi60 General Mon, 16 Jan 2017 00:50:24 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739127#msg-739127 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739127#msg-739127 boingboing.net]]]> VDX General Sun, 15 Jan 2017 17:34:55 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739126#msg-739126 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,739126#msg-739126
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JamesK
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I wonder if Solar sintering [www.markuskayser.com] would be appropriate.

What a stunningly brilliant idea! It takes a certain amount of courage to take mechanical high-tech into a desert though.

... this was done and posted in the forum some +5 years ago with a battery powered printer and a big Fresnel-lens, to melt sand.

Worked, but the spot was some mm to cm wide, so not the fine details as with laser-sintering.

But I know too, that some clinics in Afrika uses focussed solar light focussed/injected into glass fibers for cutting (and coagulating) instead of scalpels ... so there is some finer focussing possible too ;)]]> VDX General Sun, 15 Jan 2017 17:32:20 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,738862#msg-738862 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,738862#msg-738862
My guess is regular energy (solar or nuclear) + lasers is the more efficient option.]]> anvoice General Sat, 14 Jan 2017 21:17:54 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,738859#msg-738859 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,738859#msg-738859
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I wonder if Solar sintering [www.markuskayser.com] would be appropriate.

What a stunningly brilliant idea! It takes a certain amount of courage to take mechanical high-tech into a desert though.]]> JamesK General Sat, 14 Jan 2017 21:09:04 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,738646#msg-738646 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,738646#msg-738646
But apart from the theory, Musk and others are committed to actually trying it. 3D printing is if you like our "most advanced technology". So I think it would be a good test to see if that technology would actually be useful off-planet. I wonder if Solar sintering [www.markuskayser.com] would be appropriate.]]> bobc General Sat, 14 Jan 2017 05:58:22 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,738609#msg-738609 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,738609#msg-738609 Mankind is only able to survive the climate change we are facing, when we are able to move.
Let Mr. Trump build his Mexican wall. One day, when North America is under Ice and Snow, his Grandchilds will stand at the wall and bang at the gate, trying to pass it.]]> o_lampe General Sat, 14 Jan 2017 03:48:15 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,738490#msg-738490 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,738490#msg-738490
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MechaBits
Fix this Planet

Yeah, good point, but really it is people, not the planet, that need fixing :)

I'm not sure there is a politically acceptable way to fix people, so engineers are called in to provide the "techno-fix". The iPhone is the opiate of the masses. Might keep us distracted until the Big One hits.]]> bobc General Fri, 13 Jan 2017 13:06:53 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,738480#msg-738480 Re: NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,738480#msg-738480 Fix this Planet, before "terror-forming" others.
Can you imagine a nice row of Barrat hutches on the red planet.
White Picket Fences, mastic asphalt, all over the place...

If you could make some bubble forming foam, from mars materials, things could be interesting


]]> MechaBits General Fri, 13 Jan 2017 12:38:15 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,738475#msg-738475 NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,738475,738475#msg-738475 NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge

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NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge seeks to foster development of new technologies to additively manufacture a habitat using local indigenous materials with, or without, recyclable materials, in space and on Earth.

In other words, we want America's best and brightest to help us figure out how to build a house on Mars, using advanced 3D printing technology in the most efficient and sustainable way possible. Sound like something you'd see in a movie? Maybe. But, Mars is our next frontier. And the technologies we develop can have applications today, and help advance America's leadership in technology and innovation.

Rules etc available at link. Note there are restrictions on non-US teams.

Any takers? :)]]> bobc General Fri, 13 Jan 2017 12:27:27 -0500