NASA is ready to create an Airbnb that is out of this world. The US space agency has granted a construction technology company $60 million to build a house on the moon by 2040, which will be not only for astronauts, but also for ordinary civilians.
The plan is to launch a giant 3D printer on the moon and use lunar concrete made of rocks, mineral fragments and dust to layer the structure on the surface.
NASA is also working with universities and private companies to build doors, tiles and furniture for the home on the moon, writes dailymail.co.uk.
The agenda includes creating an establishment on Mars for space fair characters who will one day live on the Red Planet.
Plans are in the very early stages, with only 2022 renderings available to paint a picture of what the home might look like — the idea could change over the next decade.
At this time, NASA is not saying how much it will charge civilians for their stay in the lunar house.
Austin-based ICON, which won the 2022 NASA contract, is using its expertise in 3D printing Earth, building luxury homes layer by layer using its The Vulcan system. The technology involves a mixture of cement, sand and water as a thread.
Filament is actually ink that comes out of the printer as thick strips stacked on top of each other. All components of the home – for example, the walls and roof – are printed separately and then assembled together.
Homes built this way are becoming increasingly popular because they are going up quickly, with developers saying they could solve America’s housing crisis.
Photo: NASA
