9781422282960

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Introduction

planet to learn as much as they can. Some, like the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, circled Mars from above. Others were robotic rovers that crisscrossed the planet’s surface.

Ten years of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

AlthoughMars is themost studied planet in our solar system (with the exception

of Earth, of course), humans have yet to set foot there. The dis- covery of water, however, amped up calls for us to visit and per- haps colonize the world that the ancient Egyptians called “Har Decher”—the “Red One.” And if we did, where would we live? NASA scientists have asked that question many times, which is why they encouraged engineers to come up with a plan for a human habitat that uses the planet’s natural resources and 3D printing technology. Why such a combination?As themovie TheMartian underscored, living and working on Mars would be a challenging and dan- gerous experience. Once on the surface, humans would need to be there for an extended period. They would have to find ways to use what they found on the planet to survive, including raw materials to build their own shelters. Bubble-Shaped Igloo That’s where 3D printing comes into play. Also known as addi- tive manufacturing, 3D printing allows people to use different