Three-dimensional models of future habitats on Mars.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) has launched a competition.
HABITAT ON MARS
Mars has been a dream come true for centuries, with its close proximity to Earth, its similarities to Earth and its potential to host life. But the surface isn't quite as flat as it looks, with big swings in temperature every day. It's like living in a desert on Earth, with really cold nights and really hot days, but it's even worse at night - minus 70 degrees! This year,
NASA held a competition to see who would be the first humans to build a home on Mars, and the top two teams from around the world went head-to-head in a thrilling finale.
Jeffrey and his team at AI Space Factory came up with the idea of MARSHA because the atmosphere on Mars is so thin that it can't hold heat. Plus, there's no magnetosphere, so there's no protection from the sun's and the sun's radiation. To survive, they needed a habitat that could provide protection from these extreme conditions, and since importing materials from
Earth would be too expensive, they wanted to build it with materials they could use on-site. They figured out that printing a cylinder vertically was the perfect shape to build a habitat, since it has no sharp corners and is very gentle. The pressure inside the habitat makes it want to blow up like a balloon, so they needed a shape that could effectively hold back all the pressure.
At those spots, we ended up with the egg shape. Once we decided on the shape, we had to figure out what to make it from. This is where the rubber really hits the road. You have to pick something that's up to the challenge and something you can actually make on Mars. We chose the polymer because it had a few advantages.
First, it doesn't need water, which is a very valuable resource on Mars. The other big advantage of the polymer type, which is technically called thermoplastic, is that you can reverse the curing process if you need to. So with these plastics, you can reheat them, remelt them, and re-electorate them.
The team then carefully planned out the floor plan, making sure each room was optimized for use by the astronauts. They also included a rover docking port and windows, as well as a skylight.
We barely made it to the first level of the competition, but then we made it to the second construction level and ended up taking second place. Once we got the award and the money, we jumped right back on the project. That brings us to the last week of the competition.
NASA invited the two top teams to live-print a one-third scale version of the habitat in front of a panel of judges. All the testing we'd done up until then had been remote and only part-time. We'd never even had the chance to print a real prototype before we had to print it.
I think we all knew that when we put ourselves in the situation and had to figure out what was going wrong, we'd come up with solutions. The question was how much would it take to figure it out?
Two days to get the machines set up, then three days to print the habitat.
In a perfect world, you just press the button and your building will take care of itself. But, of course, we were in charge of this whole process, and the judges had a stopwatch. Every time we needed to make a tweak, even just a small one, we'd let the judges know and they'd start the clock. So,
We kept an eye on how things went. Jeffrey: You're the one? Judge: Yes, I'm the one.
Have you started? Jeffrey: We've started! The first day was probably the nerve-wracking one because it's the foundation of everything else, and if it's not going well, then your whole habitat could be messed up.
So, we were really keeping an eye on things. Did I look like I was stressed out? The question is, do I look stressed out? Absolutely! I had to stay calm because crazy energy is contagious.
On the second day, printing was pretty steady. We ended up printing the highest we've ever printed, which was here. We used to print about this high, but now we've broken that record. Tomorrow, we'll be printing all day until it's 3 feet wide, which is the diameter. It's still a long way off.
On the third day, we switched to one layer thickness, so we could print the next seven feet in a single day, which usually takes us two days. That was definitely the busiest day. As the clock got closer to the end,
we only had one more thing to do: place the skylight. We knew the more layers you printed, the more likely it was to sit on top because it's a tapering shape. If we stopped too early, it would fall through. So at 6 PM, we kind of released the skylight.
At the end of the competition, both teams had to give up their designs, and it was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. Everyone was wondering what they could have done differently to make sure Skylight didn't fall. After the competition, everyone went out to dinner and celebrated the fact that they had made it this far. The judges put the designs through a bunch of tests, and it was time to announce the winner! AI Space Factory won first place! It was like I'd just finished a four-year degree where I was accepted into the program, and now I have my master's. It was like I was closing a chapter of my life. Even though the competition was over, MARSHA's plans for Mars will keep going forward. It might take a few more years, but sustainable building technologies are here to stay.
TERA is an AI SpaceFactory designed for outer space that could soon be built on Earth. It's made up of the same parts from MARSHA that won the competition, and it'll be a fully operational home in Garrison, NY, which is about an hour away from our office in Manhattan. We're doing this to show that it's possible to build sustainably and take technology from outer space and bring it to earth. We're in a really interesting time right now, where we have a space race and a climate crisis, and these two are often seen as sides of the same coin. It's a choice between going to Mars and making it big, or staying here and fixing Earth.
I think that's a misconception. There are ways to literally take what's been done in outer space and do it here, and come up with new ways to think about sustainability.
About the Creator
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Visiting the world's coldest city.
COLDEST CITY Siri, the temperature in Antarctica is minus 47 degrees outside. The air temperature in the region is minus 14.8 degrees Fahrenheit or negative 20 degrees Celsius. Here, the temperature is negative 58 degrees Fahrenheit or negative 47 degrees Celsius. Our lungs are not used, which is why we are coughing.
By Amiel villorente3 years ago in Earth
DoJ Attorneys Resign Over Decision Not to Investigate Agent in Minneapolis ICE Shooting
A Justice Department Decision Sparks Fallout Several US Department of Justice (DoJ) attorneys have resigned following an internal decision not to pursue a criminal investigation into a federal immigration agent involved in a shooting in Minneapolis, according to multiple officials familiar with the matter. The resignations have intensified scrutiny of the DoJ’s handling of the case and fueled public debate over law enforcement accountability, particularly when federal agents are involved. The shooting, which occurred during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Minneapolis, has already drawn local outrage and national attention. The decision not to open a formal investigation has now added a new layer of controversy—this time from within the Justice Department itself. What Is Known About the Minneapolis ICE Shooting Details surrounding the incident remain limited, as authorities have not released a full public account. What has been confirmed is that an ICE agent discharged a firearm during an operation, resulting in a civilian being shot. The condition of the victim has not been fully detailed in official statements, though local officials confirmed the individual survived. Local law enforcement initially responded to the scene, but jurisdictional authority shifted quickly due to the involvement of a federal agent. Under standard procedure, incidents involving federal officers are typically reviewed by the DoJ to determine whether a civil rights or criminal investigation is warranted. It was this review—and its outcome—that ultimately triggered internal dissent. Why DoJ Attorneys Walked Away According to sources familiar with the resignations, multiple attorneys—some with experience in civil rights and public integrity cases—objected strongly to the decision not to open a formal investigation. They argued that the shooting met the threshold for independent review, regardless of whether charges were ultimately brought. One former official described the decision as “a dangerous precedent,” warning that declining to investigate could erode public trust. Others reportedly felt that political considerations, rather than legal standards, influenced the outcome. While the DoJ has not publicly confirmed the number of resignations, officials acknowledged that departures occurred and said they were handled in accordance with internal procedures. The Justice Department’s Position In a brief statement, the Department of Justice said it had conducted an initial assessment of the incident and concluded that there was insufficient basis to proceed with a criminal investigation at this time. Officials emphasized that such decisions are made after reviewing available evidence, including use-of-force policies and witness statements. The department rejected claims that the decision was politically motivated, insisting that prosecutors follow established legal thresholds rather than public pressure. However, the DoJ declined to provide further details, citing the sensitive nature of law enforcement operations and personnel matters. Minneapolis Officials and Community Reaction In Minneapolis, the reaction has been swift and critical. City leaders and community advocates have called for greater transparency, arguing that federal agents operating within city limits should be subject to the same level of scrutiny as local police. “This isn’t about politics—it’s about accountability,” said a local civil rights advocate. “When someone is shot, there must be an independent investigation, regardless of the badge involved.” Protests and community meetings have followed, with residents demanding the release of body camera footage, operational details, and a clearer explanation for the DoJ’s decision. ICE Operations Under Renewed Scrutiny The shooting and subsequent fallout have reignited broader concerns about ICE enforcement tactics. Critics argue that immigration operations often take place with limited oversight, creating conditions where accountability gaps can emerge. Advocacy groups note that ICE agents are armed and authorized to use force, yet incidents involving shootings are relatively rare—and therefore require especially careful review when they occur. Supporters of ICE counter that agents operate in dangerous environments and must make split-second decisions, warning against rushing to judgment without full facts. Political Pressure and the Rule of Law The resignations have also raised questions about political pressure within federal law enforcement agencies. 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By Aarif Lashari6 days ago in Earth
Images Show Aftermath of Deadly Crash on Thai Railway Line
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Comments (1)
I like Mars hope more content for this,good luck sr.