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New York-based AI SpaceFactory design agency wins first prize in NASA contest 3D printing of a habitat this could be used on the moon or on march.
AI SpaceFactory earned $ 500,000 for its efforts, while the second, Penn State, received $ 200,000.
The winning habitat, called Marsha, is tall and thin, to reduce the need for construction rovers on unfamiliar terrain, according to AI SpaceFactory. It is designed to be built on a vertical telescopic arm, attached to a mobile, which remains stationary during construction. AI SpaceFactory plans to adapt Marsha's design to create an eco-friendly ecological habitat called Tera; a crowdfunding campaign will start soon, the design agency said in a statement.
Related: How could 3D printers reinvent the NASA space?
"We have developed these technologies for space, but they have the potential to transform the way we build on Earth," said David Malott, CEO and founder of AI SpaceFactory. "By using natural and biodegradable materials derived from crops, we could eliminate the massive waste of non-recyclable concrete from the construction industry and restore our planet."
The rewards came after a grueling 30-hour challenge in which participants created structures at the one-third scale of their architectural designs, according to a statement from NASA. Each team used robotic construction techniques supposed to have little human interference, thus demonstrating that the process could work autonomously on other worlds.
The competition was held May 1-4 at the Edwards Demonstration & Learning Center in Edwards, Illinois. The teams built their homes in 10 hours, during which a panel of judges reviewed their work. Completed structures had to pass quality tests such as material mixing, durability, leaks and strength.
"The last stage of this contest is the culmination of an extremely hard work done by brilliant and inventive minds that help us advance the technologies needed for a sustainable human presence on the Moon and then on Mars" said Monsi Roman, program manager at NASA. Centennial challenges, said in NASA's statement. "We celebrate their vision, dedication and innovation in the development of concepts that will not only help achieve NASA's far-reaching goals, but also provide viable housing solutions here." even on Earth. "
The contest, which began in 2015 and took place in stages, attracted 60 teams that collectively won more than $ 2 million in NASA prizes. The main partner of NASA in the competition was Bradley University, in Illinois.
Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
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