NASA’s 3D printed Martian habitat where people will spend a year

The structure, known as the Mars Dune Alpha, is a collaboration between Icon and the architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group.

Icon is a company that seamlessly constructs buildings on site without having to assemble individual units.

The company’s 3D printer, known as the Vulcan, will produce layers of cement to simulate a realistic Mars. The habitat aims to inform and support the health and performance of crews for future missions.

3D printed houses are more and more popular. They are quick to build and in some cases printing a house only takes a few hours.

In 2019, Icon partnered with New Story, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, to produce a small 350-square-foot house that took just 48 hours to build.