Bricks produced using mycelium , yard wasteland , and forest chips as a part of the myco - architecture project . like materials could be used to build habitat on the Moon or Mars . NASA
When next astronaut set out for the moonshine or for Mars , they ’ll require some shelter . And while you might imagine cities on other satellite being made of steel , or Methedrine , or some high - technical school carbon copy fibre compound , NASA has other ideas . The agency is fund research into grow their own home ground out of fungi .
As groundless as the idea sounds , it makes a lot of practical gumption . carry anything into space is hard and expensive , and hale Brobdingnagian amounts of building material onto a rocket is n’t feasible . So space agencies are more and more interested in using approaches that utilize materials that are readily usable , likebuilding construction out of the dusty regolith materialthat cover Mars ’s airfoil , or involve very lightweight materials , like inflatable habitats .
Bricks produced using mycelium, yard waste, and wood chips as a part of the myco-architecture project. Similar materials could be used to build habitats on the Moon or Mars.NASA
In the type of the fungi , the idea is to make a lightweight , succinct anatomical structure that hold dormant fungi for travel . When spaceman arrive at their goal , they need to “ just add water ” to let the fungi grow around a framework to create a full home ground .
The labor is part of a programme call NASA ’s Innovative Advanced Concepts ( NIAC ) that direct to come up with futuristic estimation for distance travel . “ As NASA prepare to explore farther into the cosmos than ever before , it will postulate newfangled science and technology that does n’t yet exist , ” tell NASA Administrator Bill Nelson in astatement . “ NASA ’s space technology squad and the NIAC computer program unlock visionary ideas – ideas that make the impossible , possible . This new research is a steppingstone to our Artemis run as we prepare to go back to the Moon to live , to take , to invent , to produce — then jeopardize to Mars and beyond . ”
The myco - architecture concept has previously been funded as anearly phase project , and was capable of growing this nightmarish but intriguing BM out of fungus kingdom in around two weeks .
Now , the project has been awarded a further rhythm of funding to develop the technology and to influence on a possible future monstrance mission . The team will work to optimize the materials they are rise , and finally plan to test out the construct in low - Earth compass , such as on the International Space Station .
“ Mycotecture Off Planet exemplifies how advanced concepts can change how we envision future exploration missions , ” say John Nelson , NIAC Program Executive . “ As NASA venture on the next era of space exploration , NIAC helps the means lay the necessary groundwork to bring innovative visions to life . ”
