NASA has awarded a $500,000 prize to New York-based design agency ‘AI spacefactory’ for taking out first prize in NASA’s 3D printed habitats challenge with its 15-foot tall prototype ‘MARSHA’, which could one day serve as home for astronauts on deep space exploration missions to Mars.
AI spacefactory team faced off with a Pennsylvania State University team in the final stage of the competition which saw the teams gathering in Illinois over three days to 3D print one-third scale versions of prototypes that could be built from biodegradable and recyclable materials found on Mars.
Prototypes were tested on strength, durability, leakage and material mix, with the AI spacefactory’s prototype winning for using materials found to be lighter and stronger than concrete in pressure testing.