AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin 3D printing development firm is trying to the celebs for it’s subsequent large undertaking, even after a current fireplace brought on harm to its constructing in Austin.
On Tuesday, ICON obtained an almost $60 million contract from NASA to analysis and develop house based mostly development methods.
The contract builds upon earlier NASA and Division of Protection funding for ICON’s Venture Olympus to analysis and develop space-based development methods. These methods will assist exploration on the moon and ultimately different planets.
“That’s what undertaking Olympus is about, utilizing native lunar materials in a multipurpose development system to construct all the key components that we’ll want for a lunar outpost,” mentioned ICON CEO, Jason Ballard. “I’m excited in regards to the progress up to now and this newest contract is geared toward truly getting us on the moon and doing development”
Working in assist of NASA’s Artemis program, ICON plans to work with lunar regolith samples introduced again from Apollo missions and numerous regolith simulants to find out their mechanical habits in simulated lunar gravity. The corporate mentioned it additionally intends to deliver it’s superior {hardware} and software program into house on a lunar gravity simulation flight.
On Friday, ICON’s HQ constructing and lab burned in a fireplace, however Ballard says regardless of the harm this gained’t influence any of their tasks.
“It’s a actual intestine punch,” mentioned Ballard. “A whole lot of historical past was made in these buildings, it’s our authentic HQ right here, however the enterprise will go on.”
Ballard mentioned they did lose one check 3D printer, however no different printers had been broken as they had been all out on different tasks.
“To alter the house exploration paradigm from ‘there and again once more’ to ‘there to remain,’ we’re going to wish sturdy, resilient, and broadly succesful methods that may use the native sources of the Moon and different planetary our bodies. We’re happy that our analysis and engineering to-date has demonstrated that such methods are certainly potential, and we look ahead to now making that chance a actuality,” mentioned Ballard. “The ultimate deliverable of this contract might be humanity’s first development on one other world, and that’s going to be a reasonably particular achievement.”
The purpose is to construct on the moon in 2026.
Ballard mentioned the longer term is vivid for 3D printing on earth and in house.
“We’re presently growing the subsequent technology of printer, however I can’t say a lot about that, however what you must anticipate is greater, sooner and extra succesful,” mentioned Ballard.