HexHab 2.0 Mars 3D Printed Habitat

Phase 3: Level 2 of NASA's 3D Printed Habitat Challenge: HexHab 2.0 is the 2nd iteration of a design proposal from team X-ARC for a habitat on the surface of Mars, built autonomously using 3D printed construction techniques with In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). Crew-assisted outfitting of the HexHab is described. The HexHab 2.0 design placed 4th overall out of 11 entries, for the Phase 3, Level 2 competition.
DESIGN TEAM:
Sam Ximenes (Team Leader)
Dallas Bienhoff
Serdar Baycan
Hoyoung Kim
Philip Barnes
Suzana Bianco
Allison Shaffer
Zach Taylor
Prashant Rao
Subra Sankaran
Michael Reuter
VIDEO PRODUCTION:
Narrator: Elyse Mirto
Composer: Nomi Abadi
Video Provided by: Reychido Productions

[@rubscratch98]

This seems like the kind of thing you want to have as a second or third base. Because the habitat is not ready when the crew arrives it can be fatal if something is broken or dosnt fit. the habitat shoulb be finished and pressure testet whilst the crew is still on earth or in orbit.

[@ApprovedService]

Rubix_Cube_Box shoulb have spelled should have you little kid haha

[@rubscratch98]

@@ApprovedService i suppose telling people about their grammar mistakes is the only way of feeling good about yourself. But have you considered that most of us on the internet do not speak English as their mother tounge? For me English comes after German and Latin and next to Swedish. So i suppose making grammar mistakes is ok for me. If I may give you an advice for better manners on the internet; have you considered just being nice in overall. And if you want to argue about something then perhaps argue about facts and interesting ideas. Instead of just calling people names on the internet. Tho you probably cant talk about more sophisticated stuff because that would require a brain.

[@rholdnr]

@@rubscratch98 I couldn't agree with you more. Also, where is the exercise room? 38% Earth's gravity is going to cause massive heart attacks very quickly without it.

[@bxchris]

They wouldn't need a habitat already built. Crews will live in the lander at first.

[@rubscratch98]

@@bxchris of course but the whole idea of these habs is to have a fast build and safe place which is more comfortable than the lander. And if you can shoot the builders and equipment up there beforehand to leave a bigger more comfortable lander. You could just automatically build a hab by robots beforehand

[@pwnmeisterage]

This video somehow reminds me of a Vault-Tec sales pitch.

[@austinprindle6744]

space exportation and survival of a nuclear war is scary similar

[@verygoodlastpost7035]

@@austinprindle6744 uhbnhgbgbb

[@dadsonworldwide3238]

Tunnels are the future of any longterm habitats .anything else is just dreaming

[@goiterlanternbase]

@Dadson worldwide. I would say for midturn. Once, there are underground facilities of industrial scale, we can go upstairs. I bet some the first mars-born childs will see the sun shining through the thick lead-glass windows in there retirement home😁

[@MegamanTheSecond]

or spend a fraction of the money for floating habitats on Venus with plenty of everything, idk whats with this agenda to go to mars its a dead planet and everyone who goes there for the near future will die on the planet after 3-5 years and thats a stretch

[@goiterlanternbase]

@Megaman The Second Where u want to fly today? The warm acid clouds of the stratosphere or the freezin near vacuum of the ionosphere? On Venus there is no place to stay.

[@bryanhopper4727]

@@goiterlanternbase That is incorrect!

[@goiterlanternbase]

@Bryan Hopper Link me a correct model.

[@thesamson1091]

I cannot wait to see this happens

[@toadthewhite2594]

Me to

Beautiful animation. Real world practical demonstrations would help sell this.

[@unbreakableyin2522]

DOOM 3 SCHEMATICS BETA LAUNCH!

[@user-up5dh4no8r]

we should probably try to get someone to mars first, before we start this cool extravaganza

[@nirjharbhatnaagar1982]

This is the Real Face of how important Chemistry is...for all life to Develop.

[@luisantoniomarrega1120]

Abrigos nota 10. Queria ver a colonização de Marte mas sou idoso e quando isso acontecer não estarei vivo. Abraço! Rio de Janeiro Brazil

[@yarngod]

If we ever have permanent base there it mostly will be UNDERGROUND. It's the only meteorite and radiation safe solution and also it's huge savings on heating. Only 2m under the surface of Moon temperature is stable all the time and is about -25C. Best option is to build at the bottom of some crater and than cover it with local sand (regolith) that gives bullet proof safety and insulation.

[@nirjharbhatnaagar1982]

I think i saw this kind of miniature model with toy excavators, and digger, and Mars Trucks in one of the 3D printing videos.

[@leonardread13]

How are they going to get the heavy machinery to Mars?

[@aftershok98]

Don't ask the wrong questions ^^

[@spacearchitecture3606]

Very good guys but you should add your internet adress to the about page, hard to find you

[@simonrobins4316]

creating building materials using mars resources - excellent idea - better than transporting it - do we know if microbes (or anything else harmful) are within this processed material that could effect humans (given most of the raw material is from mars)

[@npsit1]

It could be 33,000,000 miles or it could be 131,000,000 miles - depending on the orbit of each planet at the time of calculation.

[@juremales4185]

That's why the widow to go to Mars is every 22 months.

[@PseudoEmpathy]

My question for all of these are what happens when your machines pack up? Because that's going to happen. What redundancies are there?

[@thesamson1091]

It's going to happen

[@earth2.022]

i have an idea! what if we just dig or find a cave/hole and fit them with airlock doors and pressurizing them?

[@warviper2523]

I know it's a sales pitch so it's supposed to, but damn that living area looks really cozy

[@dalton5160]

The real question I have is how we keep the Mars dust out of the habitats. Isn't that stuff toxic and fine to the point where it would cause serious lung problems?

[@CarsonJenk]

Why does it need an elevator?

[@AmanKaur-bh9qr]

Amazing

[@marcnormandin2877]

Where is the landfill?

[@Muuip]

Great visualization! Very useful.

[@alvermillioncranky8360]

Two questions. Can this be done here? And how much?

[@brianmeynell9125]

Where does the Food and water come from....and where does all the Poo go......I think that scenario needs a LOT of work...….

[@Moatheus]

They will take food and water from here... The poo can be used to plant seeds or just throw the poo in any place

[@DanaBidlake]

I want to be a part of this where do I sign up???

[@reginolinvincent2421]

this is future on mars if the lord tarries .

[@Rudscarlyn]

It will wait for the crew to assemble. By the time the crew arrive it will be very dirty and they will have so much to do.

[@renopanther3433]

IF it can be built, the openings can be easily boarded up until the first humans arrive. After that, continuous human presence will ensure each one is finished before it's occupants arrive.

[@luisantoniomarrega1120]

Esse habitat para o planeta Marte é fantástico o problema é levar o maquinário para lá. Abraço

[@i.k.channel9062]

Radiation: "Am I some kind of joke for you?" | - . -)

[@maincoon6602]

How would they cook their food? Using the Bathroom? What about trash? Entertainment? Free time? After work how would the people have fun? Cleaning dishes and clothes? Law and order? Crime?

[@epsospremium6088]

*Impressive, if ever build* on Mars or in the Sahara desert. What if people have gases and bloating. How do we ventilate ? Would be also better to send plants first, so that they show if the habitat is livable for living things.

[@FurlogTheGiant]

We love ours

[@Fromard]

I wonder if they come with a 30 year mortgage?

[@babarianking2894]

KZbin recommend this after i watched subnautica 😂 not a bad idea for sequels.

[@vincent7520]

Mars will not be sustainable without earth for long time. The issue is that we won't have enough money to spend both financing Mars exploration and long stays and implementing all new technologies to save earth. We have to make a choice now : either fund mars exploration and die or use technologies developed for mars to save our planet first.

[@nightlightabcd]

At least these are entertaining! Again, no mention of the effects of the physical and mental effects of reduced gravity over a extended period of time! It will take around six months to reach Mars at the earth and Mars closest approach, then around one and a half years in around thirty eight percent the gravity of earth, then another six months return to earth with no gravity, let along extended stays or even further out. All other potential problems and issues are being worked on, except gravity, which is essential for long period space flights and habitation. Until we deal with that, even Mars may be too far.

[@martinchouj4436]

build parts from drons conect in space and send all toun ....

[@ramiroromodurand8472]

Todo está muy bonito pero no es práctico, y les faltó un lugar donde quitarse sus trajes y como hacer para que no entre polvo marciano que es muy pegajoso y muy fino, acuérdense de Armstrong que metió polvo lunar hasta adentro de la cápsula Apolo.

[@errarehumanumest3810]

But ... why would I want to live on the risky, dangerous, radioactive-flooded and meteor-struck surface? It is much cheaper and much safer to simply seal the existing underground lava tubes and use them! Much more spacious, too.

[@richardturner2455]

3D printers work on earth but how does the fluid pour and hold up at two hundred degrees BELOW ZERO? How about the south pole check on systems? The moon and Mars the NEXT gerations. Launch at thy South Pole as well, causes and effects... Landings as well. Plant the flag and shoot for moon.

[@attilarivera]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@timothywilliams1359]

Ridiculous. No discussion of the enormous amount of energy required to run all those machines and produce all the building materials. Forget solar. One dust storm and you have no power for up to five months. Nuclear? Maybe... Let's see some designs.

[@aaronpreston3037]

as long as you can grow potatoes and weed id be happy

[@khansirgs0102]

My dream staying on mars. If possible call me👍 😜

[@jugganuat6440]

Nice cartoon next time add a couple looney toons characters and a acme rocket

[@Siamon34]

The rovers and finishing the build by humans are the weakness of this design. The Walls built ithout human inspection can't garantee a 100% structural integrity special with the pressure inside and outside. The 3D printed is defenetly the best solution but maybe more to create a shell for inflatable structures than to create directly the habitats. The rovers must be all the sames but they must use different "tools" for the works you request it increase the resilience of the all design. Nice video anyway but not really the best way to settle mars.

[@JohnWalker-sn8co]

Underground habitation is more cost effective..

[@twt3716]

I want one. For my wife.

[@mrman5517]

3d printed habitats are stupid.. soo stupid. for much less energy and equipment mass you could robotically compress and bake bricks of regolith and build arches over cut trenches (making tunnels as long as you like), then use loose waste material to backfill over the now structurally supportive arch for radiation shielding. when your humans arrive all they need to do is unroll and inflate a plastic liner in the tunnel for air-tightness and BAM! some cheap, effective, spacious habitat is ready to use.

[@Black-Re4per]

this feels like a Fallout Vault Ad

[@niknak3702]

is there 3d automated printed hexhab community anywhere on earth you muppets

[@alpobosanceros7878]

Human destroing world and not poind to go eny planet to weist the taime betar mace world betar or fuckin weithing for det

[@davidl9232]

Don't we need the shelters to be good for 3 years, due of flight prep and time of travel. To Mars. And we'll NEED capable robotics to pre- establish everything. So we'll have a Chance, of living. The planet is dangerous as heck for life. We need alternatives to Earth for a species survival. But let's not be fools.

[@keed4982]

Such a bad design. Takes 3 years just to build the thing

[@khetilyakhetilya4532]

1year = epic fail the need is for minimal 2 years as best case scenario and worsth case 5 years as it should be a safety standard for any mars habitat

[@pwnmeisterage]

Mission flight times to Mars have been about 200-300 days, sometimes just over 150 days with ideal planetary alignments and favourable launch windows (and sometimes 360 days or longer with worst-case transits and/or delayed launches). All carefully planned and prepared well in advance, without any life-and-death urgency. So I agree it's foolish to not provision for at least 2 years (two worst-case launch situations). Chances of fault are low with consequences of fault are fatal = unacceptable risk.

[@rholdnr]

@@pwnmeisterage Yes, but that doesn't mean anyone is going to spend the money on the extra Delta-V to send a rescue ship to us at the worst time if we're on Mars. It would be deaths chalked up to poor circumstance and inherent risk.

[@THX..1138]

Yeah it's a little worrisome when people looking make Mars habitats don't know basic facts about what a Mars mission would entail.

[@freebirdnorway]

There will be no humans on any of the first flights. Just equipment and emergency systems for a return flight. I also predict there will be a autonomous return flight to earth before any humans leave to stay on mars.

[@stepaushi]

Where are you getting these numbers from?

[@HouseBricksDoor187]

How about just use an ladder instead of a elevator?

[@myman8336]

Uhh because ladders are racist

[@wdd3141]

"an ladder" = "a ladder"? "a elevator" = "an elevator"?

[@gazdubai]

Caves are the way forward. We started as caveman on earth we will start on Mars as cave Martians. Then we need tunnel boring megastructures !

[@marcusporciuscato6404]

@Apeman Commeth Underrated comment.

[@EdmundRobinson]

Would not this be filled with toxic martian dust from the build process and from it sitting around open for months until the outfitting crew arrive. There is no interior clean interior shell.

[@aftershok98]

I believe the regolith of mars, being eroded by it's atmosphere, is non toxic, and more or less inert sand I think that what you are thinking about is the lunar regolith, wich is also non-toxic, but because of a lack of atmosphere, is not eroded, and thus extremely sharp, making it dangerous both for materials such as Astronauts suits, and for human lungs, proviking micro hemorrage The martian regolith does not have that problem

[@robertstewart9989]

Martian regolith is thought to contain large quantities of perchlorates.

[@VenturiLife]

Makes more sense to use an existing lava tube or crater / rock over-hang to cut the radiation. This could be used for stuff outside that people don't live in.

[@mornepretorius208]

They want to test out 3d printed homes very very far away, maybe start printing homes here at home first.

[@kjetilhvalstrand1009]

Yes it be good idea there are places similar on earth to mars, so it's possible test some of it, moon is 1/6 of gravity, mars is 1/3 of gravity, so moon is somewhat harder than mars, I think. Some test can be pressurize the building relative to pressure difference on mars. It should also be possible to do radiation testing as well.

[@artoruvidal2793]

it's so expensive to print on earth than mars as the gravity of mars is weaker thus easier

[@kjetilhvalstrand1009]

@@artoruvidal2793 but you don't want poors or bobels in the the walls when print, gravity should help remove bubbles.

[@GameArchiver]

They already do 3d print homes here.

[@pwnmeisterage]

They do some 3D printed concrete and structures. Maybe possible to make the machines lighter and better but the concept has been tested well enough. They don't do a lot of it (yet) because it's just cheaper and more versatile to build buildings on Earth with more conventional methods.

[@evolicious]

Yea, martian soil is not that rich in minerals. This is entry is more of a sci-fi dream than anything remotely feasible in the next 30 years. Just make a tunnel, ffs. It's far better than 3d printing buildings, lol. This idea isn't even feasible on earth, let alone, on another planet.

[@iNetRunner]

EVOLICIOUS Except it has been done many times here on terra firma: all3dp.com/1/3d-printed-house-homes-buildings-3d-printing-construction/

[@okbutthenagain.9402]

Wrong. Please do the research before commenting.

[@iNetRunner]

OK! But then again. WTH? Do you think those projects all have lied to have produced actual buildings, and no one has actually visited or been to one? You have to be more specific if you wish to give some counter argument. E.g. limiting the raw material inputs to those only found in to Martian soils - obviously not something that has been done, outside of any possible private studies.

[@JonathanAdami]

Everyone has their own idea of how this should be done I see, I for one, am glad that someone thought about it that much, if this could translate into a real project, I'd be thrilled. Just one thing I'd say is: Anyone who has ever lived in an apartment with elevators know how much these things need maintenance, why not just stairs? You can print them during the building process, people can use them at the same time to go different places instead of waiting for the elevator, plus: martian g's is so low that stairs won't be as annoying as they are here on earth. Oh and there's very little maintenance in stairs ;) Just an idea!

[@muuubiee]

Seems extremely complicated, and therefore likely to run into issues that may take years to replace.

[@muuubiee]

@faded fella No, it's a waste of money. It would never succeed on earth, and it won't succeed on mars.

[@myman8336]

@@muuubiee We're doing it anyway

[@brookestephen]

I wonder when architects will realize that heat from the habitat could warm the ground enough to deform it. Also, each module will require food & water storage and sewage treatment machinery. Don't forget areas devoted to food production! This plan doesn't assign NEAR enough space to food growth. Won't be much room left for astronauts! What about power? Where are the wind and solar collectors? Where are the storage batteries??? Architect bias expects that all these are "external services".

[@GameArchiver]

Seems like a good idea for research outposts.

[@nightlightabcd]

It might on one of earths poles! But Mars is a totally different story! On the other hand, I guess it's about as good as it's going to be! I hop they bring a long lots of bathroom paper because theire'e not much of it on Mars!

[@stephenblessed92]

I think these are the opening scenes of a Sci-Fi horror movie I once saw.

[@Starknight00]

Hahahah true.

[@talon310calif]

Yes, no matter what, do not take off your helmet or put your face next to strange things. Nothing ever good happened from either things in the movies.

[@talon310calif]

Yes, no matter what, do not take off your helmet or put your face next to strange things. Nothing ever good happened from either things in the movies.

[@asdawece]

"We are developing mars habitat shelters but we don't have anyone to render our ideas."

[@skywolfbat]

This is a really interesting concept, the only question is up-scaling.

[@AlexandreLollini]

The first settlers on Mars will need a backup, maybe the spaceship itself, because imagine the 3D printed structure is flawed in a way that is not detectable by robots, you want to fit the airlock and you find a problem : retreat must be an option. It should be made so that the fuel for return is ready when the first settlers arrive, in case of failure, they can refuel and go back. but this design is interesting as PE is good vs radiations.

[@landroveraddict2457]

Just computer graphics, not one single snippet of real video. They have nothing. The best approach is to send a nuclear reactor, and a tunnel boring machine. Underground or cut into the side of a mountain is the only safe place. Help fund my kick starter TBM to Mars 😉

[@okbutthenagain.9402]

Wrong. They have a working type model already built and seen by NASA. Don't you people ever do the research before posting????

[@kwabenatree]

snake oil

[@ShadowPuppet3001]

I got the experience and the skills to get work done sign me up I want to go to Mars :)

[@mackw919]

My only issue is the duration of time a person can live in the tab 1 year accidents happen they might have to live there forever

[@viktor1800]

Have you considered the perchlorate salts, which are plentiful on mars? Perchlorates explode when heated

[@Azaurus1]

seems nice, but I think building martian warehouses for in situ commerical activity would take priority.

[@voljohe]

Whoa, I just realized a huge problem. The planet's environment is not static. It's constantly living, meaning dust will get into the habitat. Wait you can't build stuff on Mars in sense with out changing the poisonous landscape. Terraforming should be the solution, right?

[@kgill99]

THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE -pre-arrival use drones to find best spot=good landing spot, near ice, loose material in abundance -astronauts use bulldozer/dragger/lifter machine (same machine, just different add-ons) to scrape bit of land flat -they use lego style bricks that they brought with them to manually build a building themselves, but leave roof off eg they build floor+walls -they spray liquid (eg plastic) over all surfaces to seal walls -they use bulldozer/dragger/lifter machine to drag big bits equipment to hab and use lifter to place big stuff in hab -they finish roof using lego again and then spray it all to seal it completely -they use bulldozer to place large amount of loose martian material all over building, burying it very deeply =one hab elsewhere they set up water/oxygen creating machine (presumably on ice) and power generator (probably nuclear initially) and get water, oxygen and power from these to hab, then grow food there. Now they have shelter from radiation+heat+oxygen+water+food=life! Astronauts main job will be solely to keep everything running, at least initially. KEEP IT SIMPLE!

[@ShadowPuppet3001]

this building is the best i seen yet :) when do we go to Mars i want to go

[@toadthewhite2594]

Better start doing crunches

[@texasbassranger]

A significant number of my friends get all excited when they watch videos like this. Truth is, the AI and robotics needed to complete these structures are at least a generation away, maybe more. One clogged printer nozzle stops the entire project, so the AI necessary for contingencies like this are crucial. Our first people on Mars will live like moles in lava tubes, and even then, not until we develop the robotics needed to map and prepare the floor surfaces of those tubes. I like to dream, but I'll not see it in my lifetime to be sure, maybe my grandkids will.

[@matthewjacobs141]

Do you people really think autonomous machines will be able to build a habitat as complex as what is planned...ask anyone who has been on a building site and they will tell you that nothing goes as planned... there are Always problems...machines always break...get clogged...parts don't fit...Let's say the project is finished but fails the pressure test...do you think machines can do what a person can do...change and adopt? IMO...Machines are good at digging and moving lots of material...let them dig a hole for the first arrivals to install an inflatable like a Bigelow 330...and the machines can reverse the dig and cover the structure that will give protection from High energy particles and stabilize the temperature

[@EddyKorgo]

Did they toke in account the temperatures on Mars? Rapidly drying layer doesnt really make the best base for next layer. Less prompt to bind together properly. And what about the winds and dust. If you can safely build in THIS kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKOsfYeMh8iKbKM and it will last without cracks forming and eventually creating leaks (I mean you want to use some wall layer to make sure its air tight and it will stay airtight even if some rocks hit the walls from outside), then you are golden. The hexagon shape instead of circular is great choice. Maximizing living space does help morale and comfort plus the flat walls can be used to make connection between modules thus creating complex which is what we essentially want. Nice idea.

[@Thaistickthai]

the weakest proposal i've seen by far. even more weak than the one with the modular claptraps and overuse of buzzwords that screamed implausible. other than the shell everything would have to be shipped from earth. I think A.I.'s case has been the most practical and proven I've seen. (didn't see you at Penn St....)

[@nicolasrose3968]

Imagine , despite the training and focus on the objective , going to Mars from your life on Earth is a bit depressing yeah , it's asking a lot , no , everything from the people taking these first steps , it is all new and exciting at first but then .... well , look at the "hab" and picture yourself trying to cope with that as one of the first people to live there. It's these first "experimenters" that will have to deal with the early"trials and tribulations" . But I suppose it's not exactly like suffering.

[@1701Larry]

OK-------- Sorry but the last thing any dwelling on Mars needs (for the first few decades), is an elevator. Osha's Handy Cap access rules are the last thing that need to be enforced with every pound costing millions. LOL

[@rodney73991]

love honey comb insulation air pockets idea if works. also like windows crew. been some talk that might better not have any windows. do agree with 4-5 coments down stares better then elevator. as 3d printed house hook all together. should more then one type or model. if print wall you have couple designs that would be same to make. press bottom witch one wanted to make.

[@robinleesalyers9088]

YEA, LOOKING FOR ANOTHER HOME, MARS, THE MOON, ANY PLACE, WHY? THE EARTH IS ON FIRE UNDERGROUND, THIS IS WHY WE HAVE EARTHQUAKES & VOLCANOS, THE OIL UNDERGROUND IS FEEDING THE FIRE, WE NEED TO USE UP THE OIL UNDERGROUND.

[@lukee-bj3ek]

My birthday was when this was posted ahaha

[@James-pi8mr]

the fact that this uses water, and requires a large pit to be dug means that it will never be used also a dome is hard to print and is not the optimal shape to maximize livable surfaces. Plus the interior design is so industrial it would never be suitable for a permanent home. No one wants to live in a factory

[@mickeybowmeister1944]

Everyone commenting on this will be long dead and forgotten by the time realistic human habitation is feasible on Mars.

[@almightyyak675]

Humans can't even live on earth without f*cking it up, & now they want to go to Mars. Makes sense...

[@jorgesolis7891]

Is it just one big printer that will do al the job or requires the assistance of other smaller printers for the fine details?

[@99snubby]

So don't you think they should do a test launch to Antarctica so they can make sure it all works correctly?

[@starelementscool]

ой балаболы когда зделаете тогда и балабольте

[@jimshreve83]

1/6 gravity should make bowling easier.

[@depressedyouth]

Who here is hexhab client?

[@Gabby-du4mc]

I don;t like that shape, looks super uncomfee to my eyes

[@CameronKiesser]

The best solution is tunnels. After we establish some sort of self sufficiency, start building the fancy Martian homes for the middle and upper classes on the surface.

[@theghostnogo8346]

The build in Mars is can be taking 5 or 10 year