The U.S. space agency, NASA, has initiated a project named “Olympus” in collaboration with the architecture studio BIG and 3D-printing company ICON. The project’s objective is to develop robotic construction methods on the lunar surface to enable the creation of sustainable habitats for astronauts.
According to a report by Jadeh Makhsous news agency, Project Olympus will utilize in-situ resources, particularly lunar dust, to construct structures. This approach not only reduces waste but also represents a sustainable solution for creating space infrastructure. NASA and its partner teams at the Marshall Space Flight Center are currently testing simulated lunar soil samples to assess the feasibility of 3D printing with these materials.
According to Bjarke Ingels, founder of BIG, architecture takes on a new meaning in space, as designs must be tailored for conditions with no precedent on Earth. He emphasized that building a habitat on the Moon is not just a construction project but an act of imagining and creating a way of life in a completely different world.
The company SEArch+ has also joined the Project Olympus team, explaining that 3D printing with indigenous materials is a sustainable and flexible solution for extraterrestrial construction. This method not only secures the future of space missions but could also help reduce the carbon footprint of the construction industry on Earth.
According to Jadeh Makhsous, BIG has prior experience designing the “Mars Science City” in Dubai, and ICON was a finalist in NASA’s competitions for 3D-printed habitats. The combination of these companies’ experience and SEArch+’s long-standing collaboration with NASA makes the Project Olympus team a complete group to realize sustainable settlement on the Moon.
What is your opinion on establishing a city on the moon? Do you think Project Olympus will be realized in the near future? Share your views and insights in the comments below.