STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – NASA has awarded X-Hab 3D, Inc., a significant Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase 1 contract, marking a crucial step in exploring methods for lunar construction.
A key focus of this project is harnessing high-power solid-state microwave generators and their application for wireless power transmission and preprocessing building materials.
In collaboration with Pennsylvania State University, X-Hab 3D has been exploring since August key technical objectives related to building concrete structures on the moon and using regolith as a material source. This initiative aligns seamlessly with NASA's Moon-to-Mars Planetary Autonomous Construction Technology (MMPACT) project.
"NASA's STTR Phase 1 contract is a key milestone for X-Hab 3D. The primary focus includes using high-powered microwaves to revolutionize construction processes, such as curing lunar concrete and preprocessing regolith,” Dr. Sven Bilen, a co-founder of X-Hab 3D and its lead for Systems Engineering, said
X-Hab 3D’s lunar-focused innovations for this contract are intended to be translated into more practical uses closer to home.
“These applications are not confined to lunar endeavors but extend to Earth, with the potential to reshape 3D printing for sustainable and rapid construction methods,” such as sintering, heating, drying, preprocessing, and powering autonomous equipment using microwave power systems, Bilen added.
And with the application of microwaves for wireless power transmission, this project's potential impact expands to making construction of any sort more possible in even the most remote terrains on the planet.
What’s more, this project contributes to global efforts in adopting low-carbon cement and cement-free binders, bringing more environmentally friendly construction anywhere.
“The potentials for our work in lunar material research for NASA and its applications from the moon to the Earth and beyond represent what could be a giant leap in construction,” Bruce Kraselsky, X-Hab 3D’s CEO, said. “Finding innovative solutions to complex issues in construction anywhere is where we excel, and our team remains committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible no matter where our 3D concrete printing systems are.”