The multi-phase challenge was designed to advance the construction technology needed to create sustainable housing solutions for Earth and beyond. The competition, completed in 2019, awarded a total of $2,061,023.
The 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge was a NASA’s Centennial Challenges program competition to build a 3D-printed habitat for deep space exploration, including the agency’s journey to the Moon, Mars or beyond. The multi-phase challenge was designed to advance the construction technology needed to create sustainable housing solutions for Earth and beyond. The competition, completed in 2019, awarded a total of $2,061,023.
- Phase 1, the Design Competition, required teams to submit architectural renderings and was completed in 2015. ($50,000 prize purse/$40,000 awarded)
- Phase 2, the Structural Member Competition, focused on material technologies, requiring teams to create structural components. It was completed in 2017. ($1.1 million prize purse/$701,000 awarded)
- Phase 3, the On-Site Habitat Competition, completed in 2019, challenged competitors to fabricate sub-scale habitats, and had five levels of competition – three construction levels and two virtual levels. For the virtual levels, teams used Building Information Modeling software to design a habitat that combined allowances for both the structure and systems it must contain. The construction levels challenged the teams to autonomously 3D-print elements of the habitat, culminating with a one-third-scale printed habitat for the final level. ($3.15M prize purse/ $2M awarded)
The 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge was managed through a partnership with NASA’s Centennial Challenges program and Bradley University. Bradley partnered with sponsors Caterpillar, Bechtel and Brick & Mortar Ventures to administer the competition. NASA’s Centennial Challenges program is part of the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, and is managed at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
3D-Printed Habitat Challenge News
See past articles about this completed challenge.

NASA’s 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge Winners to Discuss Automation and 3D-Printing in Public Panel

Teams 3D Print Planetary Habitats, Awarded $700K in NASA Challenge

Media Invited to Final Competition of NASA’s 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge

Latest Updates from NASA on 3D-Printed Habitat Competition

Top Five Teams Win a Share of $100,000 in Virtual Modeling Stage of NASA’s 3D-Printed Habitat Competition

Top 10 Teams Selected in Virtual Model Stage of NASA’s 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge

NASA Opens $2 Million Third Phase of 3D-Printed Habitat Competition

NASA Awards $400,000 to Top Teams at Second Phase of 3D-Printing Competition

Six Teams Earn Honors, Prize Money in Second Construction Level of NASA Challenge to 3-D Print a Habitat

NASA Awards $100,000 in First Printing Stage of 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge

A New Home on Mars: NASA Langley’s Icy Concept for Living on the Red Planet

NASA Offers Prize Money for Winning 3D-Printed Habitat Ideas
Fact Sheet
NASA’s 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge was a Centennial Challenges Program competition designed to advance additive construction technology needed to create sustainable housing solutions for Earth, the Moon, Mars and beyond.
Learn More