I have long held that the full implementation of space-based solar power (SBSP) will depend on the development of off-Earth construction capabilities and the utilization of off-Earth material resources. The deep gravity well of our home planet makes placing Earth-sourced and manufactured SBSP components in orbit almost prohibitively expensive, although recent advances in reusable launch vehicles is driving that cost curve down.
As NASA plans for long-term human exploration of the Moon under Artemis, new technologies are required to meet the unique challenges of living and working on another world.
NASA, ICON Advance Lunar Construction Technology for Moon Missions
In late 2022, ICON, a 3D printed housing company based in Texas, received a contract under NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to continue its research and development of lunar-based construction systems. Project Olympus will aim space-based construction systems to support planned exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond.
“To change the space exploration paradigm from ‘there and back again’ to ‘there to stay,’ we’re going to need robust, resilient, and broadly capable systems that can use the local resources of the Moon and other planetary bodies. We’re pleased that our research and engineering to-date has demonstrated that such systems are indeed possible, and we look forward to now making that possibility a reality.”
Jason Ballard, ICON co-founder and CEO
Project Olympus will be the first significant off-Earth, largely autonomous construction project utilizing locally sourced materials. While not building solar panel arrays or wireless power transmission structures, the habitats, launch facilities, and other support structures that Project Olympus will hopefully create will be critical to establishing a persistent human presence on another world.
Perhaps an SBSP solar panel array manufacturing facility on the Moon should be on NASA and ICON’s short list of things to build out of lunar regolith next!
Citizens for Space Based Solar Power 