NASA is taking significant steps to make living on the Moon and Mars a reality by developing advanced construction technologies that utilize local materials. The agency aims to create sustainable infrastructure, such as habitats, roads, and landing pads, by using regolith, the loose soil found on planetary surfaces. This approach not only supports space missions but also holds the potential for breakthroughs in construction on Earth.
At the core of this innovation is the Moon to Mars Planetary Autonomous Construction Technology (MMPACT) project, which is based at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Funded by the Game Changing Development program, MMPACT investigates how robotic 3D printing can be employed to construct structures on other worlds using in-situ materials.
NASA has been collaborating with industry experts, including Dr. Behrokh Khoshnevis from the University of Southern California, who is recognized for his development of Contour Crafting. This innovative method involves extruding molten regolith mixed with a binder to create solid structures layer by layer. It can be employed to build essential components like radiation shielding and landing pads autonomously.
Dr. Khoshnevis has also developed a technique called selective separation sintering, which utilizes heat and pressure to produce detailed ceramic or metallic parts. This efficient method can function both on planetary surfaces and in space, allowing for the creation of items such as interlocking tiles and replacement components.
In addition to NASA’s efforts, commercial companies are actively contributing as well. ICON, a construction technology firm based in Texas, has partnered with NASA to explore 3D-printed habitats. In 2021, ICON successfully built a full-scale simulated Martian habitat named Mars Dune Alpha, which includes crew quarters and workspaces. This habitat is currently being used in NASA’s Mars mission simulations, scheduled to run through 2026.
ICON is also developing the Olympus construction system, which is designed to utilize lunar and Martian materials for building. The company has created a robotic 3D printing technique called Laser Vitreous Multi-material Transformation, where high-powered lasers melt regolith into strong, ceramic-like structures that can withstand harsh environments.
To better understand how lunar regolith behaves in low gravity, ICON conducted an experiment called Duneflow in 2025. This experiment was launched aboard Blue Origin’s reusable rocket and provided valuable data by simulating lunar gravity for approximately two minutes.
These innovations are paving the way for future off-world living. Additionally, the same technology has the potential to transform housing construction on Earth, offering faster and more sustainable solutions to global challenges.
