Has anyone here been discussing NASA's 3D printing Mars habitat competition?

[THX1138]

(I searched but couldn't find anything so apologies if this thread already exists).

I've got no idea what to print to make a structurally sound and presumably air-tight habitat. It seems to be left to the participants to determine what indigenous materials are available on the various potentially-habitable locations.

Presumably they'll construct in one of the identified caves or hollows for improved shielding from radiation and maybe micrometeorites but I don't follow NASA or space research so I don't know.

http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-challenges-designers-to-construct-habitat-for-deep-space-exploration

[Mazon Del]

I am considering entering this competition, as I am currently in the Sample Retrieval Robot Centennial Challenge. I'm not 100% sure how I feel about the format in this one though. The way the current rules work is that you create a 3D model of your base, then get it printed out on current printers no smaller than 8x8x8 (inches) and no larger than 14x14x14 (inches), as well as a load of other data about where you'd choose to position this base, why, etc, etc. They will then judge/score your entry and the top 30 teams will be allowed to compete in the next 2 stages. Stage 1 is basically tech demonstration and show how you intend to produce the main structural members of the structure. Stage 2 is actually printing off a full scale environment.

Incidentally the environment in question needs at minimum 1,000 square feet of livable space, plus some extra space for environmental systems (and their backups).

For informational purposes, the difference between the SRR and this competition is that you never needed to 'earn' your way into level 1. That said, 30 teams is a LOT of teams, even the SRR only has 20 competing and I think like 26 that originally signed up.

[kerbiloid]

Here was something like that.

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/100523-The-3D-printing-of-Lunar-Base-Shackelton

[Robotengineer]

I don't understand how they want you to use 3D printing in the actual implementation of the base, it makes little sense.

[SargeRho]

Collect Martian dust, combine it with water or some other binding chemical to produce a cement-like substance, cover an inflatable habitat with it.

[Mazon Del]

I don't understand how they want you to use 3D printing in the actual implementation of the base, it makes little sense.

The thing I've come to realize about the Centennial Challenges, is that if you want to know what the challenge is really about, don't ask what the challenge is, ask what the challenge is doing.

The Sample Retrieval Robot was secretly just about algorithm development.

This one is about automated construction technologies. Everything else we build has automation SOMEWHERE along the way. But buildings are still done the old fashioned way.