An innovative collection of planetary construction materials that were researched and developed in Hawaiʻi for sustainable space exploration are being showcased in a new exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum (NASM) in Washington, D.C. in collaboration with the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES) program.
“The Futures in Space exhibition features two launchpad pavers and an interlocking brick made of sintered Hawaiian basalt and developed by PISCES,” said Chris Yoakum, communication officer of the UH Hilo aerospace research program.
NASM is one of the world’s most visited museums dedicated to flight and space exploration. The exhibit featuring PISCES’ research opened on July 28, and presents multiple visions of the future of space exploration while introducing the people, companies, governments and technologies that are helping to 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 Christian Andersen, research director at PISCES. “I’m excited to see local research from the Big Island contributing to global conversations about the future of space.”
Basalt for space
Materials for the exhibit were manufactured as part of a series of PISCES-led 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. Among the featured materials is Hawaiian basalt, which shares chemical similarities with lunar and Martian surfaces.
“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 Matthew Shindell, space curator at NASM.
The Smithsonian exhibit also features PISCES outreach programs that encourage and support youth in pursuing STEM-related studies and careers.
