Currently, there are a lot of companies that provide house building services on the moon. Some of them are SpaceX, ICON, and NASA.
ICON's plans
Several companies have made plans to build houses on the moon. But Austin-based startup ICON is working to make a real impact on the world of off-world construction.
ICON is developing an off-world construction system, and will work with NASA to design and build a lunar habitat. The company is also planning to develop a 3D printing system to make structures on the moon. ICON has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research contract from NASA, which will allow the company to continue developing its technologies.
The company has been working with two award-winning architecture firms: BIG and SEArch+. Both companies have over a decade of experience designing innovative space exploration architecture. SEArch+ has received numerous awards, including a World Architecture Award and the NASA-Johnson Space Center Human Habitability Division Award. ICON is also working with the U.S. Marine Corps on vehicle hide structures at Camp Pendleton.
ICON has also recently been awarded a dual-use SBIR contract by the U.S. Air Force to explore the similarities between Earth-based and off-world applications of 3D printing. It will help ICON continue to develop its technology and applications.
ICON recently introduced its next generation Vulcan construction system. This new system is 1.5 times larger than previous models and can produce homes faster than traditional construction methods.
ICON has been working on several projects in the past year, including a new department dedicated to prototyping space-based platforms. ICON's team has also recently expanded its offices to include a materials science laboratory. It has also printed the world's first community of 3D-printed homes in Latin America. ICON has also recently debuted the "Exploration Series" of homes.
ICON's CEO Jason Ballard said that "the company's mission is to help solve the world's housing crisis." He believes that the company's technologies can make a real impact on the world of affordable housing. ICON is also partnering with two construction companies to provide engineering services.
NASA's Artemis program
Among the many missions planned by NASA for the moon is the Artemis program, a waypoint to Mars. This program is designed to build a lunar base for future missions. The program includes multiple support missions to deliver components to the base and to transport cargo to the Moon.
The first Artemis mission is scheduled for November 2021. This mission will test the new Orion space capsule. The capsule is a reusable spacecraft that will launch on a Space Launch System rocket. Orion has a crew module manufactured by Lockheed Martin and a European Service Module manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space. The capsule is equipped with a robotic docking system, solar panels, and glass cockpit interfaces like those used in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The first Artemis mission is being led by Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Aerojet Rocketdyne, and Jacobs Engineering. Leonardo will provide specific skills for Artemis and contribute to various aspects of the program.
The program will include a lunar village, which will provide services to the lunar inhabitants. The human presence on the moon will require innovative technologies to keep the inhabitants safe and provide them with the resources they need.
The program also includes support missions such as the delivery of the Lunar Gateway modules and the Human Landing System (HLS), which will transport the astronauts back to orbit after they land on the Moon. The human presence on the moon will provide useful knowledge for Earth, and enable further research. The program has been supported by President Barack Obama and has received broad congressional support.
During the Artemis program, NASA intends to launch a steady stream of missions over the next few years. They include an uncrewed mission, Artemis 1, in November 2021; a crewed mission, Artemis 2, in May 2024; and an orbiting mission, Artemis 3, in November 2025.
NASA-AI SpaceFactory partnership
Earlier this year, NASA announced that they are working with AI SpaceFactory on a partnership for house building service on the moon. The firm will use additive manufacturing to build large structures on the surface of the moon. Using this method, NASA will be able to construct structures that will protect astronauts on important missions.
The firm's proposed outpost will protect astronauts from cosmic radiation and lunar dust. It will also serve as a test case for long-lasting structures. The structure will be built with a life expectancy of at least 50 years.
LINA, the firm's lunar outpost, will be built near the Shackleton crater. It will be built by autonomous robots and topped with 2.7 meters of lunar regolith to provide maximum protection from radiation.
LINA's structural design will be 3D printed using lunar regolith and polymer from Earth. The design will also have a photovoltaic tree to capture solar energy. The building structure is also lightweight and mass-optimized.
The firm plans to make a new material that mimics lunar regolith and use it to 3D print structures. Its goal is to develop construction technologies for sustainable space exploration. It is part of the Artemis Mission, which aims to bring people back to the Moon.
NASA selected 17 companies to compete for the prize. The competition involved designing and building a 3D-printed building. The competition is part of NASA's Centennial Challenges program. The winning team was AI SpaceFactory, which beat out Penn State University in the final 30-hour stretch.
The firm's prototype was printed within a week. It has been tested in the lunar environmental chamber at Kennedy Space Center. They are currently preparing to launch a crowdfunding campaign shortly.
SpaceX's lunar modification of the Starship
Earlier this year, SpaceX was awarded a contract with NASA to build a lunar version of the Starship spacecraft. The company will be responsible for integrating the Starship with the Lunar Gateway space station and landing crew on the Moon.
The Starship will be designed to carry four crew members and cargo to the Moon. The crew will then return to lunar orbit and integrate with the Orion spacecraft. The Starship will also be able to dock with the Lunar Gateway. The Starship is also designed to be fully reusable. This will reduce the cost of spaceflight.
SpaceX will also be developing new legs for the Starship that will allow it to land on pitted or rocky surfaces. The legs will also be able to auto-level.
SpaceX is preparing for an uncrewed demonstration mission to the Moon before the Artemis III mission. The uncrewed test flight may take place this month if regulatory approval does not dragged.
NASA and SpaceX have agreed to demonstrate upgrades to the Starship's landing system. NASA is also planning to test its ability to land cargo on the Moon. The landing site will be within six degrees of latitude of the lunar south pole. This will allow for permanent shadowed areas. It will also provide a chance for astronauts to learn more about the Moon's history.
The Starship is also designed to carry cargo anywhere in the solar system. It will be able to carry up to 180 kilograms of cargo. It will also carry supplies and equipment. It will have a cabin that features familiar displays and guidance and navigation systems. It will also have thermal protection.
The first crewed mission will occur in 2025. The second will occur in 2027. The Starship will carry four crew members, a cargo load, and a space suit.