As NASA continues to focus its attention on the Red Planet, they are launching a related program closer to home.
Through the In Situ Resource Use Challenge, the group is looking at ways to use Martian resources in situ (instead) to create a human presence on Mars. The public can submit a design for structures on Mars that would use the existing material.
“Exploring Mars and other worlds is a powerful endeavor. Like other agencies across the federal government, NASA recognizes that our success will be greatly enhanced by the inclusion of people with all kinds of knowledge, skill sets and ideas in our work, ”said Prime NASA scientist Ellen Stofan.
By already using resources on Mars NASA could save over $ 100,000 per 2.2 pounds of cargo per launch.
The challenge, run by NineSigma Inc., is part of the NASA Tournament Lab (NTL), which provides population-based challenges as a way to solve difficult problems.
It is being done in collaboration with Swamp Works, a laboratory at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida that will be used to find creative solutions to the problems involved in deep space exploration.
“The use of in situ resources is critical to our study of the universe,” said Robert Mueller, senior technologist at Swamp Works.
“We need to find ways to do what we need once we are at our destination. For example, the soil on Mars could be used to form modular structural building blocks to create shelters, landing patches and other useful structures. We are looking for creative and innovative solutions from all walks of life. ”
NASA will award $ 10,000 for first place and $ 2,500 per head for two second place applications.