In Phase Three of the ongoing 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge, NASA and partner Bradley University of Peoria, Illinois recently awarded a total of $700,000 to two winning teams. The $500,000 grand prize went to New York-based AI SpaceFactory, a multi-planetary architectural and technology design agency, for their proposal “MARSHA”. The second prize went to Pennsylvania State University of University Park, who received $200,000.

Starting in 2015, the 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge tasks teams to demonstrate different additive manufacturing technologies needed to create sustainable housing solutions for Earth and beyond, from designing to software modeling to physical construction. Since then, more than 60 teams have competed and NASA has awarded over $2 million in prize money. The habitat 3D-print is the final level of the multi-year Challenge.



The two finalist teams faced off from May 1-4 at Caterpillar's Edwards Demonstration & Learning Center in Edwards, Illinois, where they created subscale shelters made from recyclables and materials that could be found on the Moon and Mars, and other deep-space destinations. Structures had to be a one-third scale version of their architectural designs, and had to employ robotic construction techniques with minimal human intervention.

Scroll down for a glimpse of AI SpaceFactory's winning proposal.