As NASA prepares for long-duration missions to the moon and Mars for the benefit of all, a habitat-growing concept chosen by the agency on Wednesday could help future explorers “grow” houses using fungi. A team of researchers at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley will receive new funding under NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program to support their habitat research.
NIAC’s Phase III award will provide $2 million over two years to continue technology development of the Mycotecture Off Planet project in preparation for a potential future demonstration mission. The work is being led by Lynn Rothschild, senior scientist at NASA Ames.
“As NASA prepares to explore deeper into space than ever before, it will require new science and technology that does not yet exist,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “NASA’s Space Technology Team and the NIAC program are unlocking visionary ideas—ideas that make the impossible possible. This new research is a stepping stone for our Artemis campaign as we prepare to return to the Moon to live, learn, invent, create – then go to Mars and beyond.”
Some habitats, such as landers and rovers, will be transported to planetary surfaces. However, the mycotecture project team is developing technologies that could “grow” habitats on the Moon, Mars and beyond using fungi and the underground filaments that make up the bulk of fungi, known as mycelia. This development allowed explorers to travel with a compact environment built from a lightweight material containing dormant fungi. By adding water, fungi can potentially grow around this frame into a fully functional human environment while being safely contained to prevent environmental contamination.
“We are committed to developing technologies to transport our astronauts, house our explorers and facilitate valuable research,” said Walt Engelund, associate program administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “We invest in these technologies throughout their lifecycle and recognize their potential to help us achieve our goals – for the benefit of the industry, our agency and humanity.”
The mycotecture project could enable a new, multi-purpose material for construction in space, reducing weight and saving resources for other mission priorities. Proof of concept for this technology has been demonstrated through earlier NIAC awards. The team created several combinations of mushroom-based biocomposites, produced prototypes, tested the materials in a planetary simulator, evaluated improvements including the incorporation of radiation shielding, and designed detailed designs for mycelium-based lunar habitats. In addition to applications on other worlds, this project also has uses on Earth. Mycelia could be used for water filtration and systems that extract minerals from wastewater.
From human exploration of deep space to advanced propulsion and robotics, NASA strives to change the possible by supporting early-stage research into space technologies that could radically change the future.
“Mycotecture Off Planet is an example of how advanced concepts can change how we envision future exploration missions,” said John Nelson, NIAC program executive director. “As NASA embarks on the next era of space exploration, NIAC is helping the agency lay the necessary groundwork to bring innovative visions to life.”
Work under the Phase III award will allow the research team to optimize the properties of the materials. This will also allow the team to move towards testing in low Earth orbit. Future applications of this project could include integration into commercial space stations or infusion into lunar missions with the ultimate goal of use on Mars.
NASA’s innovative advanced concepts support visionary early-stage research ideas through multiple progressive study phases. In January 2024, NASA announced 19 Phase I and Phase II design selections. NIAC activities are funded by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, which is responsible for developing new cross-cutting technologies and capabilities that the agency needs to achieve its current and future missions.
For more information on NASA’s investments in space technology, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/space-technology-mission-directorate
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Jasmine Hopkins
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
jasmine.s.hopkins@nasa.gov