Colonization of the Moon

Permanent human habitation on a planetary body other than the Earth is a central theme in science fiction. As technology has advanced and concerns about the future of humanity on Earth have increased, the argument that space colonization is an achievable and worthwhile goal has gained momentum. Because of its proximity to Earth, the Moon has long been seen as a prime candidate for the location of humanity's first permanently occupied extraterrestrial base.

Economic concerns are likely to lead to settlements being created near mines and processing centers, or near the poles where a continuous source of solar energy can be harnessed. While it would be relatively easy to resupply a lunar base from Earth (albeit with higher delta v[2]), in comparison to a Martian base, the Moon is likely to play a large role in the development of long-duration closed-loop life support systems. Duplicating the ecology of Earth so that wastes can be recycled is essential to any long term effort of space exploration. The wealth and knowledge gained by extracting and refining resources on the Moon would positively affect efforts to build colonies elsewhere in the Solar System.

NASA's long range Vision for Space Exploration plan includes a return to the Moon, with a manned mission in 2020 and permanent staffing of a polar base by 2024. In Nov, 2005, China announced plans for lunar exploration, including a manned mission in 2017, and Japan is now talking about plans for a lunar base by 2030.

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM0TB6Y3EE_index_0.html

Desert Seal...Space concepts improve life in the desert(Source: European Space Agency,ESA News)

An innovative tent, developed with the use of space concepts, is now on display at the 'SAFE: Design On Risk' exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art in New York. Designed for desert use, it exploits the inhospitable environment to improve life in the desert.
Called Desert Seal, the tent is a prototype for a one-person inflatable tent for use in desert conditions. It is light, easy to transport and simple to set-up. Best of all, it takes advantage of the extreme desert temperatures to make travelling in the desert more comfortable. Desert Seal at MoMA exhibition
“Desert Seal is the result of a study on the use of inflatable technologies in hot and extreme environments carried out for ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme. We looked at different solutions and tent sizes,” says Andreas Vogler from Switzerland, who together with Arturo Vittori from Italy created Desert Seal.

“Rather than using specific space technologies, Desert Seal is derived from the methodology and principles used in space design and development. To design habitation for humans on Mars, completely autonomous solutions must be found. How can a construction be extremely light and easy to transport? How can the surrounding environment be controlled?”

The architects Vogler and Vittori started by analysing a hot desert environment and working out how these conditions could be used to create living quarters that are cool during the day yet protect against the cool desert nights.

“Designing habitats for space makes architects think about how they could also be used on Earth. Desert Seal is based on a research-driven design methodology, which investigates available in-situ resources and optimises designs to ensure they are light and have the minimum of energy requirements,” emphasises Vogler.

(Photographs showing the interior structure of the Desert Seal and Andreas Vogler on the right)

Innovative tent for desert nomads

In 2003, Vittori and Vogler set up Architecture and Vision, a design company based in Munich and London that focuses on product design and extreme environment architecture. Both have a background in aerospace architecture design and this can be seen in the conception and construction of the project. Vittori worked as an architect at Airbus in Toulouse and Vogler has carried out research in space architecture for the International Space Station and the Human Mars Mission at the University of Technology in Munich.

They designed Desert Seal specifically for hot arid environments where the air becomes considerably cooler the more distant it is from the Earth’s surface. During the day, the temperature can easily reach 60°C and beyond at ground level, while just 3 metres above it could be 40°C lower. Vittori and Vogler decided to use this characteristic to their advantage.

During the day, an electric fan in the top of the tent, 2.26 m above the ground, constantly blows cooler air inside, thus reducing the temperature inside the tent. The fan is powered by batteries charged by a flexible solar panel mounted outside the tent.

During the night, the desert radiates heat off to space and quickly reaches temperature below zero degree Celsius. Since air acts as a good insulator, on higher levels it stays considerably warmer. The fan on top now runs on batteries and blows warmer air into the tent, protecting from the chilly desert nights.

The tent consists of an air beam structure made of polyethylene-coated material. It has an awning in silver-coated high-strength textile to reflect the heat and provide protection from direct sunshine. The L-shaped tent allows upright entry and also minimises the aerodynamic load.

To make the tent, a number of space-related applications have been ‘borrowed’ from the aerospace industry such as the methods used to make parachutes, emergency inflatable objects and the flexible solar power panels that generate electricity. The Italian company Aero Sekur provided the technology and manufacturing skills to build the prototype. The Flexcell solar panel was developed by VHF-Technologies in Switzerland. Low volume and weight, inflatable construction for easy deployment, active environmental control and heat reflection are also key concepts and technologies transferred from the aerospace industry.

“However, the main spin-off from space used to create Desert Seal is not the use of clever new materials or the use of an elaborated software simulation, but the way a ‘space architect’ employs a research-based methodology,” explains Andreas Vogler.

SAFE: Design Takes On Risk exhibition

Desert Seal will be on display at The Museum of Modern Art, New York, in the 'SAFE: Design Takes On Risk' exhibition until 2 January 2006. The exhibition features more than 300 contemporary design objects and prototypes from all over the world. These range from protecting body and mind from dangerous or stressful circumstances to designs that provide a sense of comfort and security.

source: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM0TB6Y3EE_index_0.html

Lunar Base Habitat Design for Extended Manned Lunar Missions - Research Proposal

58th International Astronautical Congress 2007

Human Exploration of the Moon and Mars Symposium (A5.)

Strategies to Establish Lunar and Mars Colonies (1.)

Exclude Poster: No

Student: Yes (Sponsor: )

Includes Video: No

Author: Mr. Sanket Nayak

-, Bangalore, India, nayak.sanket@gmail.com

LUNAR BASE HABITAT DESIGN FOR EXTENDED MANNED LUNAR

MISSIONS

Abstract

Lunar Base Habitat Design: Characterizing the environment and proposing

Habitat Design for Extended Manned Lunar Missions An approach to create

a single entity catering to the needs of astro/cosmo nauts after their landing

on Lunar surface thereby making use of CEV.

Abstract:

Construction Description:

-The design consists of 4 Habitation/Research/Laboratory modules.

-Interconnected by means of interfacing units (pathways) and service core

areas.

-The staircases leading to the interfacing/service core units are provided with properly

insulated air-locking systems and are radiation shielded.

-These staircases are made up of materials with flexible joinery and the air-lock can

be directly docked on to the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) or the Manned Rovers.

-This entire structure is mobile if fitted on to with wheels and when static functionality

is required, -The habitat can be anchored on to the lunar regolith by means

of a heavy anchorage system.

-This enables the base habitat to have mobile flexibility and the scope of docking

itself to the CEV wherever it lands.

-All the habitation modules are provided with greenhouses and required radiation

shielding.

-The service core is enabled with both vertical and horizontal transport

systems i.e. lift and trolley mechanisms.

-The energy required for the entire habitat to function as per the needs is extracted

by means of solar arrays.

-The system of solar arrays is slightly different as in the case of ISS. Here the incident

solar insulation is made to fall on a solar mirror at an angle of 45 degrees and

subsequently reflected on multiple mirrors and finally a reflector in the service

core redistributes the light onto a series of solar arrays and the horticulture

unit thereby solving the purpose both electrical energy generation and the

required light stimulus for the horticulture.

-The radiation shield follows the same mechanism as in the International Space Station.

-The habitat would be equipped with extra-terrestrial inter-planetary high

speed data transfer communication system to enable high bandwidth for earth

station instructions.

-This entire construction can be categorized into a phase process.Phase I is preparatory

exploration, phase II research outpost, phase III operational base, phase

IV advanced base.

The detailed model prototype of the lunar base habitat for extended manned lunar

missions will be available in the detailed design synthesis report.