Preliminary research presented at the AGU meeting suggests transparent domes made from Martian ice could shelter future astronauts by admitting sunlight while blocking harmful UV. Models indicate domes ranging from tens of square meters to several hectares could be warmed to about 68°F (20°C) with suitable coatings. Major challenges include harvesting and processing large ice volumes and protecting dome surfaces from Martian dust storms; compressed air jets are proposed as one potential mitigation. The idea is promising but remains preliminary and needs more engineering study.
Igloos on Mars? Transparent Ice Domes Could House Future Astronauts
If humans ever set foot on Mars, they'll need safe, livable shelters that admit sunlight while shielding crews from the Red Planet's harsh environment. New preliminary research presented at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting proposes one imaginative solution: large, transparent domes carved from Martian ice.
The study—co‑authored by Robin Wordsworth, a professor of earth and planetary sciences at Harvard University—argues that abundant ice on and beneath Mars's surface could be harvested and shaped into resilient habitat shells. These domes could range from a few tens of square meters up to several hectares, with interior space designed for living quarters and growing food.
Sunlight Without Harmful UV: Built to be optically clear, the ice shells would admit visible sunlight necessary for plant growth and human well‑being while blocking harmful ultraviolet radiation. "Sunlight is particularly important to grow plants without artificial lighting and for human psychology," Wordsworth says.
Warm Interiors With Coatings: Using mathematical models to estimate material requirements, the team found that, when paired with suitable exterior coatings, ice domes could maintain interior temperatures near 68°F (20°C). That combination of passive solar gain and insulation could reduce the need for heavy imported thermal systems.
Logistics And Comparisons: The proposal addresses a central problem for crewed Mars missions: how to build and supply a safe habitat in situ. SpaceX's Starship, designed to carry roughly 100 metric tons per launch, could help deliver tools and infrastructure, but multiple launches would likely be needed to establish an outpost. The authors note that, although the ice approach requires large volumes, ice may be easier to extract and process on Mars than alternatives such as silica‑based construction materials.
Known Challenges: Major practical questions remain. It is unclear precisely how future crews would harvest and process the volumes of ice required, how long transparent ice would remain clear under Martian conditions, and how to reliably insulate and maintain the domes. Mars's infamous dust storms could coat dome surfaces and reduce insulating or optical performance.
"We haven't addressed dust directly yet," Wordsworth says, "but compressed air jets blown onto the surface of the dome following a dust storm would be one possible solution."
Earth offers precedents for living in ice—Inuit igloos, ice caves and other frozen shelters have provided warmth, stability and protection from severe weather—yet adapting those ideas for Mars will require significant engineering innovation. Future work will need to refine extraction methods, structural resilience (including resistance to sublimation and micrometeorite impacts), and dust‑management strategies.
In short, transparent ice domes are a promising, resource‑efficient concept that could complement other habitat strategies on Mars, but they remain at an early, exploratory stage and will require substantial follow‑up research and testing.
