In recent years, countries such as the United States, Japan, and India have set their sights on the Moon and Mars, hoping to establish space bases on these celestial bodies. However, the choice and transportation of construction materials have posed as a challenging issue. To address this, scientists at NASA have come up with the idea of using fungi to “grow” houses on the Moon.
NASA previously introduced the Artemis program, aiming to send humans to the Moon in 2026 and construct habitats suitable for human residents. However, various challenges have emerged during the process, including selecting materials that can withstand solar winds, cosmic rays, and drastic temperature variations.
Moreover, transporting heavy materials like wood, metal, and glass from Earth to other planets via spacecraft is not only inefficient but also extremely costly, which does not align with the cost requirements of construction.
As a solution, a team led by Lynn Rothschild, a senior scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, proposed using mycelium of common red-colored Reishi fungi as building materials. They placed the mycelium in ice cube trays without sunlight for cultivation and tested their adaptability in extreme space conditions, such as high temperatures and severe cold.
Furthermore, the team conducted simulations in moon-like environments (radiation, microgravity) to observe the adaptability of these organisms.
However, challenges remain in cultivating fungi. Scientists are currently working to overcome these issues in hopes of finding the optimal solution. Challenges include slower growth in very cold weather and potential spoilage in hot conditions. Scientists also aim to enhance the fungi with protective pigments, such as melanin, to increase their radiation resistance.
Once these fungi pass rigorous testing, they will be sent to Stanford University’s Extreme Environment Microsystems Laboratory led by Associate Professor Debbie Senesky for a series of mechanical evaluations.
If the evaluations and experiments are successful, future astronauts might only need to transport these mycelium-containing building materials to their habitats using landers, rovers, and other space vehicles. By providing appropriate moisture, nutrients (broth, wood chips), and mixing them with the weathered materials on the Moon or Mars surface (loose rocks and dust), the fungi can grow structures such as houses, garages, furniture, and other daily necessities required for human space bases.
Rothschild explained to The Mercury News that mycelium is the millions of underground threads that make up the root structure of fungi, filling any space they occupy. Therefore, they plan to use pre-designed inflatable frameworks to shape the mycelium, much like a balloon, and allow them to grow within.
The team mentioned that these fungi are expected to form a structure within weeks, potentially enabling NASA to build necessary objects before astronauts arrive, thus saving a significant amount of time. If successful, this project could also provide edible mushrooms for astronauts.
NASA noted that fungi can be grown within a controlled framework to avoid environmental contamination, as escaped fungi could potentially harm other species. Moreover, this material holds potential for self-healing, self-replication, bioengineering, as well as enhancements with materials like metals and melanin.
The team expects to receive $2 million in funding support from NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program’s third-phase research in the next 2 years. This funding will be utilized for further technological development under the “Mycotecture Off Planet” project to prepare for potential future space missions.
The third-phase funding will enable the research team to optimize material performance for testing in low-Earth orbit and potential applications in commercial space stations, moon missions, with the ultimate goal being utilization on Mars.
The concept verification of this technology has already received early NIAC awards. Rothschild’s team has tested the bio-composite materials based on fungi in planetary simulators, assessing features like radiation protection and drafting detailed mycelium-based moon habitat designs.
In addition to astronaut use, this bio-composite material might also benefit people on Earth, as mycelium not only filters water but can also extract minerals from wastewater, contributing to environmental purification.
Furthermore, NASA is collaborating with architect and mycologist Chris Maurer from Redhouse Studio in Cleveland. They are working on constructing houses using a “biobrick” made of mycelium and plant waste, aiming to replace traditional bricks and mortar in construction.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, via official NASA media, emphasized that this research is foundational for the Artemis program, as astronauts prepare to return to the Moon for living, learning, inventing, creating, and eventually exploring Mars or more distant corners of the universe.
Nelson explained, “NASA is preparing to explore further into the cosmos than ever before, requiring scientific and technological advancements that currently do not exist.”
Walt Engelund, Deputy Director of the Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, stated, “We are committed to advancing technology to provide habitats for transporting astronauts and explorers. We invest in this technology because we recognize its potential to help us achieve our goals and benefit humanity.”