It is seemingly inevitable that one day humans will land on the surface of Mars. Between the Apollo lunar missions, International Space Station, and Martian rovers and landers, much of the technology required to transport astronauts to Mars already exists; however, how those humans will live and sustain themselves on the Martian surface is yet to be clearly defined. Since at least the 1980s, researchers have envisioned what a Martian habitat may look like and what its inhabitants will require. Spanning from domed cities to lava tube shelters, the bases of conceived designs are vast. Through NASA’s 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge, the American space agency has put large-scale 3D-printing technology at the forefront of this endeavor. This paper presents the rationale for the Martian habitat designed by Northwestern University, in partnership with Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, for submission in NASA’s 3D-Printing Habitat Challenge Virtual Design Levels. The habitat includes housing for four astronauts, room for one year of supplies, 93 m293 m2 living space, and various prescribed volumes of equipment, to name a few. Defined by a unique outer-parabolic and inner-hemispherical shell, the proposed habitat takes a 3D-printing-centered approach for its architecture and fabrication.

Access the Conference Proceedings Paper on ASCE Library 

It is seemingly inevitable that one day humans will land on the surface of Mars. Between the Apollo lunar missions, International Space Station, and Martian rovers and landers, much of the technology required to transport astronauts to Mars already exists; however, how those humans will live and sustain themselves on the Martian surface is yet to be clearly defined. Since at least the 1980s, researchers have envisioned what a Martian habitat may look like and what its inhabitants will require. Spanning from domed cities to lava tube shelters, the bases of conceived designs are vast. Through NASA’s 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge, the American space agency has put large-scale 3D-printing technology at the forefront of this endeavor. This paper presents the rationale for the Martian habitat designed by Northwestern University, in partnership with Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, for submission in NASA’s 3D-Printing Habitat Challenge Virtual Design Levels. The habitat includes housing for four astronauts, room for one year of supplies, 93 m293 m2 living space, and various prescribed volumes of equipment, to name a few. Defined by a unique outer-parabolic and inner-hemispherical shell, the proposed habitat takes a 3D-printing-centered approach for its architecture and fabrication.

**[Access the Conference Proceedings Paper on ASCE Library](https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784483374.123)** 

Design and Analysis of 3D-Printable Thin-Shell Dome Structures for Extraterrestrial Habitation

This conference brought the experience and knowledge of experts in the aerospace industry together to share and discuss the latest research and engineering techniques that effect the exploration and settlement of space. Presentations were made in multiple concurrent symposia over three days. Topics included: Granular materials in space exploration, exploration in utilization of extra-terrestrial bodies, advanced materials and designs for aerospace and terrestrial structures under extreme environment, structures in challenging environments, and space engineering, construction, and architecture for the moon, Mars, and beyond.

Due to challenges with COVID-19, this 17th Biennial was moved to April 2021 and was offered in a virtual format.

[Paper Proceedings](https://ascelibrary.org/doi/book/10.1061/earthandspace2021)

Conference DOI: https://doi.org/10.26226/m.63243a3fb7ff860013acd57f