NASA Developing Autonomous Construction on the Moon and Mars

Here is the NASA Moon-to Mars Planetary Autonomous Construction Technologies (MMPACT) Overview. NASA’s goal is to develop, deliver, and demonstrate on-demand capabilities to protect astronauts and create infrastructure on the lunar surface via construction of landing pads, habitats, shelters, roadways, and blast shields using lunar regolith-based materials. ICON Build is the primary commercial developer of …

Read more

Blue Origin Blue Moon Lander and CisLunar Transporter

Blue Origin and its National Team partners will develop and fly both a lunar lander that can make a precision landing anywhere on the Moon’s surface and a cislunar transporter. NASA has awarded a NextSTEP-2 Appendix P Sustaining Lunar Development (SLD) contract to Blue Origin. Blue Origin’s National Team partners include Lockheed Martin, Draper, Boeing, …

Read more

NASA Finds Four More Moon Oceans in the Solar System so About 20 Water Objects in the Solar System

Re-analysis of data from NASA’s Voyager spacecraft, along with new computer modeling, has led NASA scientists to conclude that four of Uranus’ largest moons likely contain an ocean layer between their cores and icy crusts. Their study is the first to detail the evolution of the interior makeup and structure of all five large moons: …

Read more

NASA Funds Metal Production on the Moon

Seven university teams were selected to develop concepts supporting metal production on the Moon in NASA’s 2023 annual Breakthrough, Innovative and Game-Changing (BIG) Idea Challenge: Lunar Forge. The awards total about $1.1 million, with values between $120,000 and $180,000 based on each team’s proposed concept. The challenge is a unique collaboration between NASA’s Space Technology …

Read more

NASA Funds Icon 3D Homes for Lunar and Mars Construction

Icon is developing the Olympus’ printing technology processes to turn local lunar regolith (moon dust) into a super strong building material using only energy and then 3D-prints structures with it. Brian WangBrian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 …

Read more

State of NASA in 2023 is Mainly Moon Plans and Better Aviation

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson delivers the State of NASA address for 2023. Learn about NASA plans to explore the Moon and Mars, monitor and protect the planet, sustain U.S. leadership in aviation and aerospace innovation, drive economic growth and promote equity and diversity within the agency and across the nation, while inspiring the next generation …

Read more

Blue Origin Making Solar Cells from Lunar Regolith

Since 2021, Blue Origin has been making solar cells and transmission wire from regolith simulants. Using regolith simulants, their reactor produces iron, silicon, and aluminum through molten regolith electrolysis, in which an electrical current separates those elements from the oxygen to which they are bound. Oxygen for propulsion and life support is a byproduct. Above …

Read more

NASA Has New Plans for the Moon and Mars

NASA has published its new goals for the moon and Mars. Most of the ambitious goals will require SpaceX to develop the Superheavy Starship, in orbit refueling and the lunar Starship. The purple infrastructure goals are interesting for developing a lunar power grid and robotics automation. Brian WangBrian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and …

Read more