News Detail

ACI Participates in NASA Challenge

8/30/2017

Phase 2 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) 3-D Printed Habitat Challenge took place August 17-19, 2017, in Peoria, Illinois, USA. The competition surrounds the building of a 3-D printed habitat for deep-space exploration and is designed to advance the construction technology needed to create sustainable housing solutions for Earth and beyond. The event was organized by NASA and Bradley University. ACI participated in the event and was on hand to speak to high school and university students along with the public about the Institute, the use of concrete in 3-D printing and extraterrestrial concrete, and to promote past symposium papers included in ACI’s SP-125 “Lunar Concrete.”

Phase 1 of the competition was completed in 2015, and called on participating teams to develop state-of-the-art architectural concepts that take advantage of the unique capabilities offered by 3-D printing. Phase 2 challenged competitors to demonstrate a recycling system that can create structural components using terrestrial and space-based materials along with recyclables. Participants in Phase 2 included Pennsylvania State University, Moon X Construction, and Foster and Partners California | Branch Technology. Branch Technology was awarded first place in the challenge and received $250,000 in prize money; Pennsylvania State University placed second. Several ACI members served as judges, including Anne Ellis, David Lange, Joe Biernacki, and Peter Carrato.

The ACI Foundation’s Strategic Development Council has been involved in the advancement of 3-D printing construction for several years. Phase 3, which is currently under development, will focus on fabrication of complete habitats. NASA exhibited at the last ACI Concrete Convention and Exposition in Detroit, Michigan, USA, and will exhibit at the upcoming ACI Convention in Anaheim, California, USA.