NASA to investigate Alhambra for Mars studies

by Else BeekmanElse Beekman
Alhambra and NASA

NASA, the American space agency known for its cutting-edge research, has set its sights on one of Andalucia’s most iconic landmarks: the Alhambra in Granada. This historic palace, built between 1238 and 1358, is now drawing the attention of some of the world’s top scientists.

But what could a medieval fortress, built between 1238 and 1358, possibly have in common with space exploration? The Spanish newspaper ABC explains.

The Alhambra’s technological brilliance

The answer lies in the remarkable engineering and architectural feats of the Nasrid Dynasty, which built the Alhambra. To achieve the unthinkable by quite effortlessly withstanding the numerous challenges performed by the Christian armies, while simultaneously surrounding kingdoms repeatedly accepted defeat, indicates the superiority of the Alhambra.

Among its many innovations is a sophisticated water system that has intrigued NASA researchers. The 6-kilometre canal, carved into the mountains, demonstrates an extraordinary level of precision—its slope calculated to an exact 1% to ensure the water flows smoothly without erosion and that 200 metres higher up than the Darro river. This system, including a 45-metre-high structure that regulated pressure and stored water, was vital for the palace’s self-sufficiency and remains a testament to advanced engineering for its time. Three generations of engineers needed to perfect this generational masterpiece. 

Old building strategies, but ahead of time

For NASA, this kind of precision and ingenuity is of great interest. Despite the obvious long passing of time, the building strategies were exceedingly ahead of time that even in modern day, the biggest space agency in the world believes it can apply these 13th and 14th-century techniques on a (for now) foreign planet. Particularly, when it comes to developing sustainable systems for future missions to the Red Planet.

Drawing parallels to Mars

NASA’s interest in the Alhambra is part of its broader goal to explore and understand the technological innovations that could support human life on Mars. The Alhambra, despite being built centuries ago, showcases systems that could inspire solutions for water management and infrastructure on Mars—an environment vastly different from our own, but one that may one day require similar innovations to sustain human life.

Also read: A unique movie about the builders of the Alhambra in Spanish cinemas

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