NASA is advancing its Mycotecture project and utilizing fungi to construct habitats on the Moon and Mars, bolstered by a USD 2 million Phase III award from the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program.
This project, led by researchers at NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, explores the potential of using mycelia, the underground threads of fungi, to "grow" habitats for future explorers.
As part of this initiative, compact, lightweight structures containing dormant fungi could be carried by astronauts and, with the addition of water, expanded into fully functional human habitats.
This innovative approach aims to address the challenges of long-duration space missions by providing sustainable and easily deployable living environments.
NASA administrator, Bill Nelson, emphasized that new technologies like this are essential as NASA prepares to extend the human race’s presence beyond Earth, and enact on plans to return to the Moon under the Artemis program and eventually journey to Mars.
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The Mycotecture project exemplifies how forward-thinking concepts can revolutionize space exploration, aligning with NASA's vision of pioneering advancements for future missions.
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