What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
NASA plans to build lunar houses by 2040, marking half a century since the Apollo 17 mission, where astronauts spent 75 hours on the moon’s surface. This signifies NASA’s aspiration for more extended lunar sojourns.
NEW DELHI: US space agency NASA has intentions to build lunar habitats by 2040. This initiative comes 50 years after the Apollo 17 mission, during which astronauts spent 75 hours on the moon’s surface, signifying NASA’s desire for longer stays.
While some experts view NASA’s timeline as ambitious, The New York Times interviewed several scientists who believe that achieving the goal of lunar structures by 2040 is feasible. NASA’s strategy involves sending a 3D printer to the moon to facilitate the construction of these structures.
According to the New York Times report, the printer is set to utilise lunar surface materials, specifically rock chips and mineral fragments from the top layer of moon craters, to create concrete.
“We’re at a pivotal moment, and in some ways, it feels like a dream sequence. In other ways, it feels like it was inevitable that we would get here,” Niki Werkheiser, NASA’s director of technology maturation, told the outlet.
The space agency is placing its trust in cutting-edge technology and collaborating with both universities and private firms. “We’ve got all the right people together at the right time with a common goal, which is why I think we’ll get there,” Werkheiser said.
“Everyone is ready to take this step together, so if we get our core capabilities developed, there’s no reason it’s not possible,” she added.
Fortune reported that the 3D printer is undergoing testing ahead of its scheduled journey to the moon in February 2024. However, prior to that, NASA must accomplish the successful launch of astronauts to Earth’s natural satellite during the Artemis 2 mission, which is planned for next year.
This mission is scheduled more than a year after its predecessor, Artemis 1, lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center with only robotic occupants on board. The initial lunar mission orbited the moon and safely returned to Earth.
According to the Fortune report, Artemis 2 is slated to carry a crew of four astronauts. Subsequently, in either 2025 or 2026, the Artemis 3 mission will utilise SpaceX’s Starship to make a lunar South Pole landing, marking the return of humans to the lunar surface.
