From Hawaiʻi to Smithsonian: Innovative planetary construction materials developed on Big Island displayed in new exhibit

A collection of innovative planetary construction materials for sustainable space exploration — researched and developed by a Big Island university program — is on showcase in a new exhibit at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington.

The exhibit is a collaboration with Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems at University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.

“Futures in Space” features two launchpad pavers and an interlocking brick made of sintered Hawaiian basalt and developed by Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems.

The exhibit opened July 28 and presents multiple visions of the future of space exploration while introducing the people, companies, governments and technologies helping shape it

“This kind of recognition highlights the value of our continuing work here in Hawaiʻi to help make sustainable living on Earth — and beyond — possible,” said Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems Research Director Christian Andersen in an announcement about the exhibit. “I’m excited to see local research from the Big Island contributing to global conversations about the future of space.”

The samples manufacture led by Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems are part of a series of projects to create and deploy in-situ resource utilization technology, a term coined by NASA to describe the process of transforming raw, locally sourced planetary material into usable resources.

“Hawaiian basalt is chemically similar to lunar and Martian regolith, making it an ideal material for developing [in-situ resource utilization] processes,” Andersen explained.

He added that the basalt components are created through a process called sintering — using heat to fuse particles together without melting them — resulting in strong, durable construction elements suitable for habitats, landing pads and other essential infrastructure in space.

“We wanted to show our visitors the type of work that’s being done now, here on Earth, to prepare for future crewed missions to the moon and Mars,” said Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Space Curator Matthew Shindell in the exhibit announcement. “And we wanted to show who is doing this work. These experiments that [Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems] has done with Hawaiian basalt are wonderful examples of innovations in [in-situ resource utilization] technologies.”

“Futures in Space” also features Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems outreach programs that encourage and support youth in pursuing studies and careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

The program’s research projects continually provide opportunities for students to gain work experience while advancing emerging fields in materials science and in-situ resource utilization.

“Hawaiʻi has a unique role to play in the future of space,” Andersen said. “With our lunar-like landscapes, scientific talent and cultural legacy of exploration, Hawaiʻi can make meaningful contributions to the technologies and ideas that will help shape how humans live and work beyond Earth. We’re excited to be a part of that.”

Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems — founded in 2007 — is an aerospace research and education program in the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo College of Natural and Health Sciences.

The program’s applied research projects offer unique opportunities for high school and undergraduate students to learn hands-on work skills and gain real-world research experience.

Learn more by visiting the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems website.