Space exploration can only go so far when the home base is our own planet, so 'Project Olympus' has been created with the intention to get a habitat set up on the moon that's created using materials found on the lunar surface.
The project is being headed by Bjarke Ingle's BIG and the 3D-printed architecture company ICON with the help of SEArch+ (Space Exploration Architecture) thanks to a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) government contract with funding from NASA. The project is focused on creating a dedicated base for researchers that will allow them to live comfortably as they go about their missions.
Founder of BIG Bjarke Ingels spoke on 'Project Olympus' saying, "With ICON we are pioneering new frontiers – both materially, technologically and environmentally. To explain the power of architecture, ‘formgiving’ is the Danish word for design, which literally means to give form to that which has not yet been given form. This becomes fundamentally clear when we venture beyond Earth and begin to imagine how we are going to build and live on entirely new worlds."
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- 3D Printing in Space
- The use of 3D printing technology in space exploration provides opportunities for sustainable and cost-efficient construction of habitats and infrastructure in extraterrestrial environments.
- Space Architecture
- The development of architecture that is specifically designed for space exploration and habitation presents opportunities for innovative and practical solutions to the challenges of living and working in space.
- Government-funded Space Projects
- Government funding initiatives for space exploration provide opportunities for private companies to invest in research and development of technologies that can be applied beyond space exploration.
Where This Applies
- 3D Printing
- The use of 3D printing technology in space exploration presents opportunities for companies in the 3D printing industry to develop specialized materials and techniques for extraterrestrial construction.
- Architecture
- The development of space architecture presents opportunities for firms in the architecture industry to apply their expertise in designing livable spaces to the unique challenges of space exploration.
- Government Contracting
- Government funding for space exploration provides opportunities for companies in government contracting to participate in research and development of innovative technologies for space applications.
