Mars Dune Alpha: A 3D-Printed Habitat by ICON/BIG for NASA’s Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA)

In 2020 ICON Technology, Inc. was awarded a subcontract through Jacobs supporting NASA’s Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) to deliver a 3D-printed habitat, known as Mars Dune Alpha, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. ICON utilized the Vulcan construction system to complete a 1,700 square-foot structure, designed by architecture firm BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), that will simulate a realistic Mars habitat supporting long-duration, exploration-class space missions. The layout of the structure synthesized NASA requirements for functional habitat programs and was organized in a gradient of privacy. The habitat includes four private crew quarters, dedicated workstations, a medical station, food-growing stations, with shared recreation and living spaces in between. As a functional analog habitat, Mars Dune advances the technology readiness of multiple technology gaps relevant to additive construction for pressurized surface habitats. Among these include: the integration of Earth-brought elements such as airlocks, hatches, and a medical pass-through window, as well as the integration of modular flooring and outfitting elements for the habitat interior. As of July 2021 NASA has begun recruitment for the long-duration Mars mission analog study. Applications to participate as crew are being accepted through mid-September 2021 and the one-year analog missions are anticipated to start in Fall 2022.