WASHINGTON, June 26,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As NASA prepares for
long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars for the benefit of all,
a habitat-growing concept selected Wednesday by the agency could
help "grow" homes using fungi for future explorers. A team of
researchers at NASA Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley will receive new
funding under the NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC)
program to propel their habitat research.
The Phase III NIAC award will provide $2
million over two years to continue technology development of
the Mycotecture Off Planet project in preparation for a
potential future demonstration mission. The work is led by
Lynn Rothschild, a senior
research scientist at NASA Ames.
"As NASA prepares to explore farther into the cosmos than ever
before, it will require new science and technology that doesn't yet
exist," said NASA Administrator Bill
Nelson. "NASA's space technology team and the NIAC program
unlock visionary ideas – ideas that make the impossible, possible.
This new research is a steppingstone to our Artemis campaign as we
prepare to go back to the Moon to live, to learn, to invent, to
create – then venture to Mars and beyond."
Some habitats, such as landers and rovers, will be delivered to
planetary surfaces. However, the mycotecture project team is
developing technologies that could "grow" habitats on the Moon,
Mars, and beyond using fungi and the underground threads that
comprise the main part of fungi, known as mycelia. With this
development, explorers could travel with a compact habitat built
out of lightweight material containing dormant fungi. By adding
water, fungi can potentially grow around that framework into a
fully functional human habitat, while being safely contained to
avoid contaminating the environment.
"We are committed to advancing technologies to transport our
astronauts, house our explorers, and facilitate valuable research,"
said Walt Engelund, associate
administrator for Programs in the Space Technology Mission
Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "We invest in these technologies
throughout their lifecycle, recognizing their potential to help us
accomplish our goals – benefiting industry, our agency, and
humanity."
The mycotecture project could enable a new, multi-use material
for in-space construction, reducing mass and saving resources for
additional mission priorities. The proof of concept for this
technology was demonstrated through earlier NIAC awards. The team
created multiple combinations of fungal-based biocomposites,
fabricated prototypes, tested materials in a planetary
simulator, evaluated enhancements including incorporating
radiation protection, and drafted detailed mycelium-based Moon
habitat designs. This project also has uses on Earth in addition
to applications on other worlds. Mycelia could be used for
water filtration and systems that extract minerals from
wastewater.
From deep space human exploration to advanced propulsion and
robotics, NASA aims to change the possible by supporting
early-stage space technology research that could radically change
the future.
"Mycotecture Off Planet exemplifies how advanced concepts can
change how we envision future exploration missions," said
John Nelson, NIAC Program Executive.
"As NASA embarks on the next era of space exploration, NIAC helps
the agency lay the necessary groundwork to bring innovative visions
to life."
Work under the Phase III award will allow the research
team to optimize material properties. It also will enable the
team to progress toward testing in low Earth orbit. Future
applications of this project could include integration into
commercial space stations or infusion into missions to the Moon
with the ultimate goal of use on Mars.
NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts supports visionary,
early-stage research ideas through multiple progressive phases of
study. In January 2024, NASA
announced 19 Phase I and Phase II proposal selections. NASA's Space
Technology Mission Directorate, which is responsible for developing
the new cross-cutting technologies and capabilities the agency
needs to achieve its current and future missions, funds
NIAC activities.
For more information about NASA's investments in space
technology, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/space-technology-mission-directorate
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SOURCE NASA