3 min read<\/p>\n
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/lunar-habitat-e1778695522319.png?w=1342\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nBranch\u2019s work outfitting a prototype of a lunar surface habitat they developed, pictured here, under a cooperative agreement with Marshall Space Flight Center, helped the company evolve its printing processes.<\/div>\nCredit: Branch Technology Inc.<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAn innovative 3D printing process that advanced NASA\u2019s approach to outfitting a lunar habitat is making buildings on Earth beautiful, efficient, and strong.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Instead of building\u00a0structures\u00a0layer by layer, Branch Technology Inc.\u00a0of\u00a0Chattanooga,\u00a0Tennessee,\u00a0has developed\u00a0a\u00a0process\u00a0the company\u00a0calls\u00a0Freeform 3D Printing, which creates shapes with lightweight lattice structures that can be filled or covered. The company uses the technique to manufacture visually interesting, modular building elements, such as wall panels and cladding.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cOur process eliminates a ton of material from something that otherwise might be printed solid all the way through,\u201d said David Goodloe, who leads\u00a0Branch Technology\u2019s\u00a0Advanced Concepts team, which manages the company\u2019s NASA collaborations.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In 2017,\u00a0the company\u00a0won Phase II of\u00a0NASA\u2019s\u00a03D-Printed Habitat Challenge<\/a>,\u00a0a public\u00a0competition to build a habitat for deep space exploration.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\nTracie\u00a0Prater,\u00a0a technical manager in the Habitat Systems Development Branch at\u00a0NASA\u2019s\u00a0Marshall\u00a0Spaceflight Center in Huntsville, Alabama,\u00a0served as a subject matter expert for the\u00a0challenge and worked with Branch\u00a0Technology\u00a0on a cooperative agreement.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge, teams were focused on how to build a large habitat structure on a planetary surface,\u201d said\u00a0Prater. \u201cBut once that structure is pressurized and ready for crew occupancy, how do you populate it with systems and supplies?\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0what Branch was looking at through the cooperative agreement \u2014 what their on-demand fabrication process enables in terms of novel designs for interior items.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
NASA\u2019s\u00a0parameters for the\u00a0habitat challenge\u00a0led\u00a0Branch\u00a0to\u00a0develop\u00a0its nozzles to extrude\u00a0unique\u00a0lattice structures as well as more traditional layers.\u00a0The company\u00a0uses this dual capability\u00a0frequently\u00a0in its wall panels where traditionally printed sections offer solid substrates for attaching fasteners.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The polymers Branch extrudes were informed by its materials science\u00a0research\u00a0for the\u00a03D-Printed\u00a0Habitat Challenge, which asked that print material be made of something like the dust and rocks found on the Martian surface and mission recyclables. Branch\u00a0came up with\u00a0a basalt fiber-reinforced plastic and from that work went on to develop\u00a0an optimal\u00a0loading recipe for its terrestrial \u201cinks.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
These\u00a0innovations\u00a0exemplify the purpose of\u00a0NASA\u2019s Technology Transfer<\/a>\u00a0program\u00a0within the Space Technology Mission Directorate, which uses\u00a0space-based\u00a0solutions to\u00a0improve life on Earth.\u00a0For 50 years, NASA has documented\u00a0the\u00a0everyday\u00a0benefits\u00a0of space technology\u00a0through\u00a0the agency\u2019s\u00a0Spinoff publication.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/lunar-habitat-e1778695522319.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>An innovative 3D printing process that advanced NASA\u2019s approach to outfitting a lunar habitat is making buildings on Earth beautiful, efficient, and strong.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Instead of building\u00a0structures\u00a0layer by layer, Branch Technology Inc.\u00a0of\u00a0Chattanooga,\u00a0Tennessee,\u00a0has developed\u00a0a\u00a0process\u00a0the company\u00a0calls\u00a0Freeform 3D Printing, which creates shapes with lightweight lattice structures that can be filled or covered. The company uses the technique to manufacture visually interesting, modular building elements, such as wall panels and cladding.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cOur process eliminates a ton of material from something that otherwise might be printed solid all the way through,\u201d said David Goodloe, who leads\u00a0Branch Technology\u2019s\u00a0Advanced Concepts team, which manages the company\u2019s NASA collaborations.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In 2017,\u00a0the company\u00a0won Phase II of\u00a0NASA\u2019s\u00a03D-Printed Habitat Challenge<\/a>,\u00a0a public\u00a0competition to build a habitat for deep space exploration.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Tracie\u00a0Prater,\u00a0a technical manager in the Habitat Systems Development Branch at\u00a0NASA\u2019s\u00a0Marshall\u00a0Spaceflight Center in Huntsville, Alabama,\u00a0served as a subject matter expert for the\u00a0challenge and worked with Branch\u00a0Technology\u00a0on a cooperative agreement.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cWith the 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge, teams were focused on how to build a large habitat structure on a planetary surface,\u201d said\u00a0Prater. \u201cBut once that structure is pressurized and ready for crew occupancy, how do you populate it with systems and supplies?\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0what Branch was looking at through the cooperative agreement \u2014 what their on-demand fabrication process enables in terms of novel designs for interior items.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s\u00a0parameters for the\u00a0habitat challenge\u00a0led\u00a0Branch\u00a0to\u00a0develop\u00a0its nozzles to extrude\u00a0unique\u00a0lattice structures as well as more traditional layers.\u00a0The company\u00a0uses this dual capability\u00a0frequently\u00a0in its wall panels where traditionally printed sections offer solid substrates for attaching fasteners.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The polymers Branch extrudes were informed by its materials science\u00a0research\u00a0for the\u00a03D-Printed\u00a0Habitat Challenge, which asked that print material be made of something like the dust and rocks found on the Martian surface and mission recyclables. Branch\u00a0came up with\u00a0a basalt fiber-reinforced plastic and from that work went on to develop\u00a0an optimal\u00a0loading recipe for its terrestrial \u201cinks.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n These\u00a0innovations\u00a0exemplify the purpose of\u00a0NASA\u2019s Technology Transfer<\/a>\u00a0program\u00a0within the Space Technology Mission Directorate, which uses\u00a0space-based\u00a0solutions to\u00a0improve life on Earth.\u00a0For 50 years, NASA has documented\u00a0the\u00a0everyday\u00a0benefits\u00a0of space technology\u00a0through\u00a0the agency\u2019s\u00a0Spinoff publication.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n