3D PRINTING SCRAPBOOK: NASA AWARDS CONTRACT TO BUILD ROADS ON THE MOON
Yes you read that headline correctly, and incidentally, this article was spotted by our friend Catherine Austin Fitts, so when you read a headline like that, in an article passed along by Ms. Fitts, the article tends to vault immediately into the finals folder, as this one did.
According to the article, NASA is planning on heavy utilization of 3D printing to build out infrastructure on the Moon:
In an effort to meet this need, NASA awarded ICON—an advanced construction technology company best known for 3-D printed homes—a $57.2 million contract to develop construction technologies to build infrastructure on the moon—including landing pads, habitats and roads. The contract goes through 2028.
Tuesday’s contract is under Phase III of NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research program. It is a continuation of a prior SBIR dual-use contract with the Air Force, which NASA partially funded. The award will fund ICON’s Project Olympus to engage in research and development for space-based construction systems to support further space exploration.
“In order to explore other worlds, we need innovative new technologies adapted to those environments and our exploration needs,” Niki Werkheiser, director of technology maturation in NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, said. “Pushing this development forward with our commercial partners will create the capabilities we need for future missions.”
The new award will help ICON’s Olympus construction system, “which is designed to use local resources on the moon and Mars as building materials,” according to the announcement.
ICON will use a lunar gravity simulation flight to bring its technology into space. The company will also utilize samples of lunar regolith—a layer of debris covering the moon’s surface—to examine their behavior in simulated lunar gravity; this will help inform construction approaches. ICON noted that the technology “will help establish the critical infrastructure necessary for a sustainable lunar economy including, eventually, longer term lunar habitation.”
I hope the reader has caught the massive change in NASA's long term approach to the Moon. As recently as a couple of decades ago, most public thought about the construction of permanent humanly-populated bases on the Moon had us dragged stuff "up there" from "down here", an enormously costly - and slow - process if one is relying on chemical rockets and a mix of humans and robots to assemble and build it. There were variations on the them, with building a space station in lunar orbit to haul stuff from "down here", assemble it on the space station, and then land it on the Moon.
If one digs and scratches around long enough, one will encounter the odd project from the late 1950s and early 1960s for lugging nuclear plasma tunneling machines to the Moon to have them melt-bore underground tunnels on the planet for human bases.
Most of these projects were based on the "go-and-return" capabilities of the day.
Now NASA has focused on 3D printing and using available lunar materials, and is planning a series of low-gravity tests of such equipment using such materials, to see if it can, indeed, be done. This will be done in low-g flight tests and has already been done on the international space station with 3D printing tests in near-zero gravity. But the Moon is a special environment: it has gravity, just not as much as the Earth. So the article is letting us know what "phase one" is. But there is a phase two that the article hints at, and it is this which really caught my eye:
“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,” Jason Ballard, ICON co-founder and CEO, said. “The final deliverable of this contract will be humanity’s first construction on another world, and that is going to be a pretty special achievement.”
I rather suspect that Mr. Ballard's comment here is meant to say as much about the phases of the current (and very likely any immediately succeeding) contract, as it is about a fanciful long term goal. In other words, if the flight-test low-g trials with lunar materials in a 3D printing format are successful, the next, and most important proof-of-concept test will be to land an automatic probe on the lunar surface, and have it actually test build a small bit of "infrastructure," say, a 3D-printed clear dome along with a water supply, to test grow a crop of plants on the Moon itself, thereby stacking functions and killing two birds with one stone (it has already been demonstrated that plants can grow in lunar soil. It just has not been done on the Moon itself.) So what the flight-test is more than like to be is a test of design concepts for 3D printers in low-g environments, tests needed if one is to design such a probe to go "up there and build something." Included in that package on that probe will probably be a variety of sensors designed to show how well the structure stands up to lunar conditions, and the constant bombardment by micro-meteoric dust particles. It might even be designed to do ordinary repairs and maintenance on the structure.
Time will tell, of course, but the bottom line for me, if my high octane speculation and analysis of this story is correct, is that the thinking behind the contract - howsoever fanciful the story may sound - is at least correct, and thinking through problems in a detailed and necessary fashion. Time will tell if the 3D printing technology is the answer to the problems NASA is trying to solve.
See you on the flip side...
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Evidently someone still feels the need to concoct outrageous hogwash sprinkled with starry sparkles to steal that much money. Someday they’ll deliver a christmas cookie packed with every fruit, nut, and pickled cover story all knotted up and wrapped up as one.
The sheep will swallow whole. With sparkles. And stars on thars.
If Ingo Swan is right and there are aliens on the moon, if the moon is actually a modified space ship full of extraterrestrial beings from another planet, then what is the US military planning on doing here, having a war with these advanced beings on this moon vehicle that is possibly armed with weapons we haven’t even dreamed of?
As advanced humans, we believe that science will save us, and that technology is the solution to our problems. Science and technology might be ways to manipulate our environment, but they are not the solutions to our growing problems. Nature is the solution to our growing problems. The solution to our problems- is what we are actively destroying. We live on this wonderful and amazing planet- yet we are destroying the one thing which we depend on for survival.
Hi Sandygirl- i totally agree..!
The Latin word natura is derived from natus “born,” past participle of nasci “to be born.” Man is born with pure logic, and a child running after the neighbors cat, over the street, is a highly logical thing to do.
Nevertheless, it is not the most reasonable thing to do, when considering the traffic on the street. Ability to reason is learned. Coming of age, is when faculty of reason is seen as fully developed.
Social conditioning takes place, during the process of learning to reason. When one realizes that, then deprogramming begins. It means returning to pure logic, which is basic instinct, and from there rebuild reason anew.
The Scythian noodle goblet, at Last Supper, is a symbol of chopping of goblin heads, that contain bad programming. To do so is natural.
https://www.etymonline.com/word/nature#etymonline_v_2321
BTW, when I use Occam’s Razor, as a samurai sword, then I leave a trail of headless corpses behind.
Occasionally, I drop by academia, for a bloodbath. I know how football was invented, because heads roll.
To turn noodles into vessels for brew is highly logical, when toasting departure into otherworldly realm.
Nature is a wonderful darling. Pure instinct!
“WE” are not destroying the planet. The so called “ELITE” are in the way they claim to be trying to save the planet from us. In North America the ecosystem has rebounded and we have learned to live in harmony. Many species and habitats have made a tremendous recovery thanks to education and a change in the way we are taught to view the environment. Our population would be decreasing due to birth control and our educated decision to have less children because of the environment if it wasn’t for the so called “ELITE SAVIOURS” flooding our borders with uneducated and undisciplined third worlders. All the science is geared to wrecking the human compatible climate to save the world from humanity. Obviously saving the planet is not their goal and is just cover for what they do best, theft, murder, and destruction on a greater global scale.
Yes, we are destroying the planet and if you don’t realize that, then I can’t waste my time debating the issue, and quit blaming so-called “elites” for your problems. You should take the time to go out into the countryside, and then maybe redo your statement. However, have a nice day.
Yeah yeah yeah. And I suppose Captain Moonikan, or whatever the sensor-filled dummy’s name is, will command these missions? I’m not holding my breath.
Amen Sandy girl, amen! And, nut cases like AOC do more harm than good. She had a chance for real reform, instead, she chose to call anyone who disagreed with her a racist or some such crap. We need to make the environment the most urgent matter or there won’t be any environment in 20 more years. And no, I’m not a leftwing, looney, loopy tard.
What part of that makes us “advanced”? “Advanced” from what?
The real question is why the dog and pony show with the SLS which is let’s face it sub-Saturn V MISMATCH OF An UPDATED Apollo capsule launched by a jerry rig shuttle main fuel tank this is a joke. And to add insult this time we will have two astronauts orbiting while two astronauts explore the Moon couldn’t have sent three astronauts to the Lunar surface this time. How long will this space circus show go on?
More like an ACT 2 in a Shakespearean Play.
Only, they’re taping over it, and screening it for public view; as an ACT I.
“They’ve” been using advanced additive manufacturing going way back.
It was only made public recently.
So, when reading, seeing, and/or hearing of these “advancements” I tend to get a little irritated by their signature Mickey Mouse science propaganda.
Also[remember I writing off the headlines only] I get irritated by the Playhouse 90 Presentation of awarding contracts. Another “fix” that is being shown as fair & square. Most know NASA[never a straight answer] is as crooked as their private puppet-masters.
Now to read more than just the headlines….
“We need new innovative technologies…”. To monopolize and meter.
There will be nothing “public” in space; w/the exception of the Big Ongoing Con.
That “public space” actually exists somewhere in the universe.
No! It’s public money. Not quite a Mickey Mouse operation;
more a Warner Brothers: “That’s all Folks”.
And just an aside. Robert Heinlein’s title, The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, is very apropos. That and any company imposing it’s will upon such a mistress. Anyone going there, will have many masters, and not one mistress – w/the exception of a telltale consciousness, reminding you it said not to go – nagging you, by constantly echoing, “I told so”.
In fact, I suspect mind control and a prison mentality; will be the order of the day.
If not outright convicts – erased from “public” record; or, “offered” as a sentence/choice in court.
Maybe robots will lead the way, followed by near human robots?
And companies will be in a long bribe line to establish monopolies there. Because the Moon is a stepping stone to Mars. Monopolized food chains are going to be literally & figuratively established on that harsh mistress, known as the Moon..
Good points there RB. “Quato”….Quade …start the reactor!
A cordial reply: “ Right now, for example, most human innovation goes toward generating profits and/or military dominance, which puts us on a trajectory toward more and more technologically advanced personal doodads to buy at the store and more and more ways of killing large numbers of people at a time. It doesn’t put us on a trajectory toward finding ways to make sure everyone has enough, to helping people have more leisure time, to helping humanity move in harmony with our ecosystem. All of those innovations would do infinitely more to create a more pleasant future for humanity than spaceships and laser guns, but our systems do not give rise to them, because they are not profitable and don’t help increase a government’s military power.
There are so many assumptions baked in to our collective visions for the future and the systems we’ve set up to carry us there. Assumptions like we’ll never have peace; we’ll always have violence, conflict and domination; we’ll always have poverty and the need for endless toil; we’ll never be able to stop consuming our biosphere to death so we’d better get out into space so that capitalism can keep expanding. All of those assumptions point us away from a healthy and harmonious future….”
“ Even if we did succeed in colonizing space, it wouldn’t solve any of our problems, and it wouldn’t make our future any more pleasant. We’d just be moving our restless, violent, insatiable, discontented minds offworld, where we’ll immediately recreate all the same problems we created down here except we’ll be doing it in artificial bubbles surrounded by deadly black desert on all sides. I mean, you think Thanksgiving is hell? Imagine cooped up with your family all day every day in what’s essentially a mall that you can never leave. Is your head really ready for that?” -I Don’t Want a Sci-Fi Future by Caitlin Johnstone
Human nature can travel anywhere. Therefore perhaps the flight ticket requires you to loose it before boarding….jab..jab.
Also makes me think of the SA Neom City recently in ads and mockups. Looks a lot like a giant spaceship or underground bunker. Choc full of social engineering and trans-humanist technology.
My understanding is the main Lunar bases will be built under the surface in large naturally occurring caverns and lava tubes.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/will-future-lunar-bases-be-underground/
https://sservi.nasa.gov/articles/scientists-reveal-design-plan-for-future-lunar-base/
Oxgen could be generated and fed to the underground bases – a bit like HG Wells – The First Men in the Moon. The film is also well worth watching.
Alternative title to this report:
NASA burns another $57.2 million.
HAHA
Interesting. It’s more advanced than Nader Khalili’s fired ceramic houses.
What a “moondoggle” for ICON. let’s see how their new community in Texas turns out.
https://www.iconbuild.com/
They even got a ‘Vulcan robotic constructions system’,
Wow, that is advanced.
By golly by gee
(Not the ‘g’, in ghee)
I thought us earthlings had, possibly, been “warned off” the moon by “the others”? I think that tribute or reparations have been paid to the others, there was a huge transfer of money and wealth during the plan scamdemic and Mr Global was in a great rush to attain said wealth, therefore we have entered a new stage in the relationship where we are being allowed settlements on the moon to be prepared.
Those are the lurid dreams of parasites, to stay afloat on a sinking ship, with a marketing campaign.
Parasites promote extraterrestrial bonanza, to sell shares in a pipe dream, induced by opium.
Parasites make a pie in the sky, to feed gaslighted goyim, with empty promises, to steal their gold.
Scythian noodle goblet, at Last Supper, pulled plug on goblin lunacy, at the source.