While China trains for life on Mars, NASA is preparing in a different way.

For the last four years, NASA has been looking over designs for human habitats that can be 3D printed on the moon or Mars, using only the materials found there.

The designs are entries in a competition launched back in 2015, with $800 000 (R11 million) in prize money.

Three entrants have made it through to the final round, where they will print 3D scale models of their designs, reports Business Insider.

NASA said it’s trying to find the technology that is “needed to create sustainable housing solutions for Earth, the Moon, Mars and beyond.”

Here they are:

SEArch+/Apis Cor

New York-based team SEArch+/Apis Cor won first place in the semi-finals of NASA’s competition.

The team said their design lets them use “indigenous, Martian materials to form a pioneering and durable habitat supporting future human missions to Mars.”

It is designed to protect humans from radiation and prioritize natural light and views of the Martian landscape as part of “celebrating human life.”

It can do all that, but is somehow not immune to that guy who always shows up at your house party with a guitar:

I bet you he’s playing ‘Wonderwall’.

The habitat includes living areas, labs, a kitchen, water towers and vertical gardens.

Here’s how it would be constructed and what it would look like inside:

Zopherus

Arkansas-based team Zopherus says that their design would be printed by an autonomous rover that it says could protect the structure from the harsh atmosphere.

It is designed to prevent the structure from cracking as temperatures on Mars vary wildly, and includes a radiation shield.

The main hub that connects the other modules is, like SEArch+/Apis Cor’s design, filled with plants and natural light.

The team envisions the main hub also serving as the docking space for the Mars Rover.

Zopherus described their design as “inspired by biology”. Take a look:

Mars Incubator

Mars Incubator designed a structure that connects four zones with bridges.

One of the four zones is where humans prepare to visit the planet outside, while the others contain multi-purpose spaces and space for growing plants.

The largest structure is where crew can sleep and prepare food.

Here’s its layout:

The winner of the competition will be announced tomorrow – May 1, 2019.

After that, it’s just the small matter of setting up a civilisation there.

[source:businessinsider]