Destination Moon – Part 3 - Future Living and Working Spaces - Design Studio 2012

Destination

MOON

Department for Building

Construction and Design – HB2

Vienna University of Technology

Editor

touch the moon slightly

Project by Petra Panna Nagy and Shi Yin

Location Moon

Year 2012

Mission Objective Habitat for research

Mission Length Long term mission

Crew members

1st phase: max. 5 people

2nd phase: 5 - 10 people (+ research tourists)

Typology Modular

Specific Characteristics

Greenhouse

Moon tower

Walkers

Moon protection

Storyboard

Politics fail, mega-companies gain ever increasing influence on the development of states. The gap between rich and poor continues to grow. And the Earth`s resources are running low. Something has to be done! ...

... Scientists propose to go to the Moon and beyond that, to Mars. On the Moon, they propose to mine Helium-3 and other resources to satisfy the demand on Earth. In silence they also hope to perform other research there. But for the governments the aim is not just the exploitation of the Moon - the Moon becomes an object of desire again.

In a certain way, history seems to repeat itself. The megalomaniac race to the Moon (caused by the competition market) turns out to be the

biggest advertising blitz ever...

...To prevent the exploitation of the Moon, an underground movement starts to fight not only for the rescue of the Moon, but also for the rights and freedom of the people.

By and by this underground movement grows until politics (governed by companies) cannot ignore it anymore...

...To prevent a rebellion the governing companies agree to (re-)declare the Moon a neutral zone. Companies and people on Earth declare their aim to rescue the Moon from exploitation and promise to touch the Moon lightly...

storyboard: negative szenario

fitness area

sanitary

medical help

sleeping area

private space

cooking area

LSS

community space leisure area

safe heaven

storage

research area

communication cent

working area

Concept base

luxury plants agricultural plants research plants

greenhouse

EARTH

Function diagram

direct connection

technical connection

view connection

base expansion

storyboard: positive szenario

concept masterplan

DESTINATION MOON

tower floor plan 3

sleep, privacy, individual space

quiet leisure

airlock, suitlock astronaut

sleep, privacy, individual space

inflatable space extension

tower floor plan 2

inflatable space extension

greenhouse

storage, sanitary eat, leisure

inflatabl for l sanitary fitness

leisure

work, laboratory

tower floor plan 1

work suits

walker arrival

walker

layer detail floor plan base

walker arriving

LSS storage

connection to safe heaven

greenhouse section

safe heaven floor plan 4

safe heaven floor plan 3

safe heaven floor plan 2

safe heaven floor plan 1

laboratory, last help, LSS-storage

work, storage

sanitary, health, fitness, leisure, cook

sleep, storage

About the design

The base is located at the peak of eternal light at the lunar south pole. After deployment in the initial phase, the growing base shall research Helium-3, the quest for water, the genesis of the Moon, lunar tubes and craters. The research station shall have as little ecological impact as possible on the lunar environment. The interior design is relevant for the psychological and social well-being of the crew. One vital element is the greenhouse, which forms a central element within the base. Different plants and plant chambers shall offer various visual connections. assembly

The Walkers

The explorer modules are designed for two people. They can walk, run, jump and climb. The modules have arms with different attachme nts, which rotate around the explorer’s corpus. These attachments allow the walker to dig, grab, drill or screw. The walking explorer enables the crew to make short missions of up to 3 days.

„Swiss poc ket knife“, attachments

Evaluation by Marc M. Cohen

The idea of Touch the Moon Slightly is to make a minimal impact upon the lunar environment, to “handle it with care,” as if it is fragile. This imported philosophy seems to derive from a misunderstanding of Planetary Protection requirements or perhaps green design guidelines. The way the architects apply the philosophy is to keep the modules physically el evated above the surface on the grid work.

The modules consist of four-legged walkers with four arms plus stationary modules. The stationary modules stand on the structural grid deck above the lunar surface. The concept stacks three cylindrical modules vertically to create a tower. The “Touch the Moon Slightly” philosophy seems to extend to installing the modules as far from the lunar surface as possible. This concept also places one module horizontally to berth to the tower at its base. The docking ports in the modules can also double as windows.

The configuration includes a “welcoming area” to receive guests and perhaps the crews from the Moon Nomadic rovers. This concept was one of the few to establish a public area for communal activities. The architects provide a functional diagram that explains the living, crew support, and agricultural functions; however the functional diagram does not include work or laboratory areas. Therefore the Touch the Moon Slightly does not seem to include a real functional construct that goes to why the crew is on the Moon and what they will do there besides minimize their interaction with it.

The concept includes both mobile and stationary eleme nts, but the functional distinction between them is not clear. In fact, the inclusion of the four-legged walkers is somewhat of a mystery given the “do not touch” design imperative.

„The students developing this project had an interesting concept as a starting point - to minimize the future human foot print on the Moon. Over the course of the studio they had many different, somtimes disparate ideas, which proved to be a challenge to combine convincingly.“ [Instructors]

Resistance/Residence under Cover

Project by Stefan Kristoffer

Location Shackleton Crater, Lunar south

pole

Year 2030

Mission Objective Sciences

Mission Length 10 years

Crew members 12 - 20

Typology I nflatable / Covered / Surface stationary

Specific Characteristics

Inflatable regolith-covered habitat situated in crater

Storyboard

In 2020 the decision is made to plan an internationally manned research mission to the Moon. Lift-off is planned for 2030. The mission objectives are to prove that human habitation is possible within a distant extraterrestrial environment, to research and utilize local materials for consumable production and for construction purposes. The Shackleton Crater at the lunar south pole is selected as the location for the base because of the access to water resources and the permanent supply of solar power.

The crew size during the research and utilization period consists of 12 scientists and 8 engineers in order to maintain the lunar base facilities. During the initial period most members serve the construction of the base. The modules land and deploy before human arrival and are completed by the initial crew.

The habitat is connected to a greenhouse (for food production), to ‘supply modules’ and to pressurized rovers. Research facilities are partly integrated, partly connected or located externally. Research topics include: geochemistry (to use lunar soil for consumable production), engineering geology (to build further structures with local materials), gravitational research, agricultural research as well as health science.

ISRU: chemically bound water and oxygen resources are planned to be extracted and used

Habitat erection

as consumables (utilization period).

Habitat

The lunar environment is not hospitable for human life. The pressurized volume needs to be maintained at a habitable level. To shield the crew from dangerous cosmic radiation the habitat is situated in an impact crater of medium size and additionally covered with lunar soil.

Living quarters are located below the crater ring so that protection is provided in the case of Solar Particle Events (SPEs). The solar altitude at the lunar south pole rises to only 1.5° craters are constantly free from solar radiation. The inflatable pressure vessel that contains habitable conditions is connected to a frame structure and has no ground contact itself.

DeploymentSite plan

Structural solution

The deploying mechanism is based on a hexagonal platform and can be compactly packed. Two parallel platforms with unfolding outriggers are combined with an inflatable hull. Supports are situated in the center and on the ring of the crater. An additional membrane spans the crater and serves as support for the regolith cover. All interior fittings are either connected to the structure or are placed in or developed from the central core.

floor plan

crew quarters / safe-haven

DESTINATION MOON Section

floor plan

crew quarters / safe-haven

research / social area

crew quarters / safe-haven

Evaluation by Marc M. Cohen

This “balloon in a bowl” habitat consists of a deployable, hexagonal plan inflatable. It has an inner deployable/expandable framework that is very clear in the scale mode. The functional modules include the Habitat, Greenhouses, and Regolith Processing. The Resistance/Residence pursues a philosophy of “environmental adaptation.”

This habitat design will deploy the inner structure and inflate the pressure bladder envelope at the same time. It offers a complete circulation loop among the functional areas. The design places the living quarters in the “basement,” to afford the greatest radiation protection. To harden the roof structure, the construction method includes placing regolith on the roof and sintering it, at least for the first few centimeters. Each inflatable module includes windows looking horizontally out to the lunar surface. The placement of openings in the surrounding berms to frame the windows is a subtle and effective way of integrating the habitat and other functional areas with the landscape.

The concept for an integrated inflatable and rigid structure that all deploys together is quite clever and the model explains it very well. In most respects, this design concept is one of the most mature architecturally, in the beaux art sense of a complete design ensemble.

While all the essential functions are present, the relationship among them is not articulated in a readily perceived or comprehended way. In the Ground Floor Plan, the geometry and structure of the smaller “Soil Processing Module” and “Supply Module” seem arbitrary and not as well worked-out as the main hexagonal-inflatable modules. One function that is either not represented or absent is the EVA airlock.

The exterior staircase to the upper left of the Supply Module presumably connects to an airlock, but unless the entire Supply Module is that airlock, it is not in evidence. Also, the Soil Processing * Module appears to have a pressure port to which to dock a rover, but again, there is no development of either an EVA access/airlock function or a “sample airlock” that would allow off-loading of regolith without having to breach the pressure envelope of the module.

“Kristoffer’s design method is model-based and this is clearly his strength. He made numerous, highly elaborate working models, some to test the deployment method, some to develop the form. Spending much of his time on the models, unfortunately his plans could have benefited from more attention.” [Instructors]

*It is misleading to refer to the regolith as “soil.” Soil implies a biological process of decomposition, which does not occur on the Moon. The American Society of Civil Engineers has a separate definition of soil referring to a specific particle size, but that is not applicable to regolith as it comes in the full range of sizes.

T:W:I:S:T

Project by Daniela Siedler

Location Shackleton Crater

Year 2037

Mission Objective Research

Mission Length 3 years

Crew members 8

Typology Inflatable

Surface stationary Underground (safe-haven)

Specific Characteristics

Main habitat is situated on crater wall, research module on the crater ground

DESTINATION MOON

Storyboard

In 2037 an eight-manned team will be on its way to the Moon, to land on the rim of the Shackleton Crater at the south pole. At the beginning, a preliminary habitat module on the crater wall as well as a smaller research module on the crater ground will be installed. The ground of the crater is permanently shadowed, very cold and thus may contain water ice, making it an interesting location for research.

Transportation from the habitat module on the rim to the research module on the crater ground is provided by special lunar vehicles.

Contrary to the dark ground of the Shackleton Crater, the rim offers an illumination of about 70 per cent per month, so it serves as an appropriate location for solar energy.

Ha bitat

The lunar habitat stretches along the crater wall like a backbone. The habitat consists of six inflatable modules, which are connected with airlocks. To ensure safety, three modules will be buried and serve as a safe-haven. During solar particle events and other emergencies astronauts are able to live in these modules, which can

operate independently.

In order to increase habitability in such a hostile setting, the greenhouse forms the center of the station. By passing through this area every day, a positive psychological effect on the astronauts is anticipated.

To ensure the optimum utilization of available space, room heights vary according to internal functions.

The initial configuration hosts eight people. The habitat expands on the crater wall towards the ground and rim of the crater. The first base will be linear in configuration, additional modules will expand in the other dimension.

Storyboard

Section SiteplanFunctional Diagram

Dort erst mal gelandet, packen die Astronauten auch schon die mitgebrachten Pakete aus.

Das bemannte Habitat landet erfolgreich auf dem Mond.

Diese Pakete sind pneumatische Habitate, die nun aufgeblasen werden. Sie werden vorerst als Forschungsstätte und Unterkonft der Astronauten dienen.

siteplan

Zur Energiegewinnung werden Photovoltaik Anlagen am Südpol, wo durchgehende Sonneneinstrahlung vorhanden ist, errichtet.

Die pneumatischen Konstruktionen werden mit dem hergestellten Beton schichtweise überzogen.

Das Pneu wird entfernt und zusammengefaltet, es bleibt lediglich der Schalungsaufbau. Das Pneu kann somit erneut aufgeblasen und verwendet werden.

Im Jahr m J 2100 werden erste Kinder geboren gebore die Bewohner kön n nen s ch hre Freizei z t im K no oder ode n einem Resta Rest Re urant verbringen. Un g d natür ich wird eifrig geforscht, um einen Weiterflug zum Mars bald ermöglichen zu können

Schritt für Schritt erfolgt die Erweiterung der Forschungssiedlung. Greenhouses, Fitnessräume und Wohnmodule werden errichtet. Weitere Astronauten landen am Mond.

DESTINATION MOON

Laboratory on the crater ground

Habitation areas on the crater rim

The Lunar Greenhouse combines the cultivation of fish with the growing of vegetables. Fish provide rich fertilizer for the plants and in return, the plants clean the water for the fish. The fish and the plants co-exist in a symbiotic relationship.

nutrient-rich water is pumped to the upper plant beds.

water follows gravity and provides plants with water and nutrients.

The freshly purified water is pumped back into the fish tank. The water is pumped through a bio filter to collect fish faeces, which are converted into nutrients by nutrifying

Crewquarters

Structural Concept

The packed habitat has a diameter of 5 meters in order to be transported to the lunar surface. The construction basically consists of a structural helix, which is tightened by structural foam. The spiral itself consists of seven inflatable pipes, which are twisted into each other. A deployable U-profile keeps the spiral together and stabilizes it as a guide rail. After construction of the spiral, the habitat will be inflated to fit the shell and put into its final position.

Structure and Deployment of the Modules

construction spiral, filled with structural foam

U-Profile, foldable lock feets, depolyable

Working model with tensile fabrics - Form finding with soap bubble experiments

Form finding with a balloon

Model of twisted tubes for the construction spiral

Evaluation by Marc M. Cohen

This concept creates a linear array of units that begins at the upper edge of the crater wall and follows the slope down toward the center. The form of these habitation units derives from the structure, which consists of a spiral “spring.” The crew will deploy this spiral inside the inflatable, giving it form that provides volumes of varying shapes and sizes that can accommodate the living and working environment functions. The spiral will initially be flexible, but its foam filling will harden into a rigid shape. The model, made of plaster of Paris, expresses and explains the concept well, better than the elaborate CAD drawings.

“Daniela was one of the students that experimented with a lot models. Doing so, she developed an interesting concept for an inflatable structure, the form of which can be adjusted to functional requirements inside.” [Instructors]

The areas that need further attention include: The construction of the spiral needs to be further articulated, particularly the outer inflatable layer that would be filled with foam that solidifies; The starting and ending points of the main spiral are ambiguous in the sense that it is not clear why they are positioned as shown; Assuming that there is a reason for the location of the starting point, there does not appear to be a “stopping rule to determine or explain why it the spiral stops where it does on the inward slope of the crater.

The main difficulty posed by this sort of predominately linear plan is that it does not allow full and proper architectural programming to develop the relationships among functional areas and volumes. Typically the architect defines

these relationships in the Adjacency Matrix. These relationships, at a minimum, would involve requirements for adjacency and access to functional areas, egress from these areas, and separation of incompatible functions.

The final presentation included one module offset from the main axis/spiral and two EVA/”Suitport” modules in line with the main axis, which shows some maturation from the earlier approach.

Summary Evaluation

Marc M. Cohen

Evaluation

The following tables cover three broad areas of for a student space architecture project. They are Concept, Representation, and Space Architecture. The Concept domain refers to the ways in which, and the degrees to which the project demonstrates identifiable and clear ideas for the project. The Represe ntation domain covers the ways in which the projects present those ideas to make them evident and comprehensible. Finally, the Space Architecture domain encompasses the extent to which the students use the elements and pattern language of Space Architecture. One way to understand these assessment tables is that they account for the various efforts the students made to come to grips with the design problem and to create and communicate a solution. Please bear in mind, that although the scoring for the Sums in the right column assess to a limited extent how well individual projects succeed, what is most important is the evaluation of how the students respond to the design brief and what their projects accomplish as a whole.

Concept: Definitions of Descriptive Criteria

Analogy, including Backstory: The use of analogy is a time-honored and widespread practice in architecture. Some students use analogy, but that is not a requirement in any sense. However it can add a story line and a degree of richness to the narrative.

Formal Concept:

Developing such a concept as a discrete physical and visual form is an essential step in architecture.

Imported Philosophy:

It has become fashionable in recent decades to start an architecture project from a philosophical --instead of a formal – parti (point of departure). Although the use of imported and possibly irrelevant philosophy sometimes provokes controversy, the recording here addresses only whether it is present in the project.

Structural Concept:

Because Space Architecture occurs in the extreme environment of vacuum and reduced or microgravity, the structure must not only support conventional live and dead loads, but also the pneumatic pressure of the atmosphere.

Geometric Construct:

As part of the structural concept or the formal concept, a geometric concomitant often becomes a prominent organizing principle.

Science of Physics Concept:

Some Space Architecture concepts invoke innovative applications of science, most often physics in developing a habitat project. Howeve r, often as much peril can accrue to the project as benefit unless the architect brings a solid grasp of the science to the effort.

Representation of the Design Concept

Storyboard / Preliminary Sketches / Study Model:

The early steps in the creative process serve as a tremendously important viewport into the architect’s design process, and can offer strong first order predictions of how well the project direction will turn out. The point in this criteria is not whether the architect went through these steps or not, but only whether she or he uses them in the review prese ntation to explain and illuminate the final project.

Functional Diagram or Matrix:

Mature and serious architectural design usually

demands a symbolic represe ntation of the relationship between functional areas or spaces. This represe ntation can take the form of a table, a matrix, or a diagram that explains the decisions about adjacency, separation, parallel eleme nts, and other supra-design features that shape the entire project, such as the modularization of living quarters, working areas, or agriculture.

Adjacency Matrix:

An adjacency matrix is a special case of a functional matrix that explicates the importance of connecting or separating individual spaces.

Site Planning:

The base or habitat sits on or under the surface of the extraterrestrial body. Where the project intersects the surface, the need arises to elaborate that intersection and the relationship between the habitat and the surrounding terrain.

Architectural Plan:

The plan drawing acts as the heart of an architectural project and probably the most timehonored represe ntation of a building. It provides the shorthand for everything else in the project.

Architectural Building Section and El evations: The building section and elevation articulates the plan’s realization in three dimensions.

Architectural 3D CAD: Computer Aided Design (CAD) has become the standard means of represe ntation in most architectural project.

Structural Detail or Other Detail:

Because Space Architecture projects are often innovative, the architects often need to explain how they will make their structural concept or other feature feasible and realizable. The detail conveys understanding of the craft of building.

Scale Model:

Presenting a project with a 3D scale model helps

the reviewer and the public understand the concept. Scale models are particularly helpful for people who are not trained design professionals and so may encounter difficulty in visualizing a 3D concept from 2D drawings.

Working Scale Model:

Where a Space Architecture project involves changes in form or structure as part of installation, deployment, or inflation, a working model offers significant help to demonstrate the concept.

Space Architecture: Elements and Design Precedents

Multiple Access:

Multiple access reflects a design that provides two or more means of entry to important areas, rooms, or spaces. There are many functional and safety reasons for why multiple access can be an asset.

Dual Remote Egress:

Two or more remotely separated exits from a given room or volume is a hallmark of the earliest life safety and fire codes on Earth. It deserves equal or greater attention in a space habitat.

Multiple Circulation Loops:

A circulation loop refers to a means of perambulating or translating around a space habitat or base. Multiple routes or loops would be beneficial for flexible and varying uses.

Public Space:

In a space habitat with five to six or more crewmembers, there will be common living, gathering, and circulation areas in addition to shared workspaces. Common living spaces include the wardroom, galley, exercise, and entertainment areas.

Vertical Circulation:

Nearly all the projects incorporate high ceilings or multiple levels in the habitat. The ways in which the crew can access these parts of the total volume serves as an important functional element.

Private Quarters: Providing a private living space and sleep quarter stands as one of the most widely recognized requirements since Raymond Loewy’s design for the Skylab sleep quarters.

Work or Lab Area: Most crewmembers will go to the space habitat or base to work, doing engineering, research, science, or technology development. They will need suitable accommodations to perform these tasks.

Plant Growth Area:

Self-sufficiency in food will emerge as a vital capability to sustain human space settleme nts. In addition, the partial G environment presents opportunities for agricultural research.

Life Support:

Life support is a sine qua non of a space habitat. The issue for Destination Moon is the extent to which the architects recognize the role of life support and make some accommodation or indication for it.

Surface Mobility: The ability to travel safely and in relative comfort over distances on the lunar surface while protected from the extreme environment constitutes a vital capability for a range of engineering, exploration, ISRU, and logistical purposes.

Use of Robotics: Autonomous, robotic, and teleoperated systems are already becoming ubiquitous in the space exploration environment. Surely these capabilities will act as an integrated element of the Destination Moon base.

EVA Access Airlock: Travel on foot to explore and work will remain essential for nearly all EVA activities on the Moon. Therefore, the space habitat should include some type of airlock provisions.

Scoring Rubric

This scoring system focuses on determining if an abovelisted element is present in a Destination Moon project and, if so, how successfully the architects implemented.

ScoreTitleCriteria

2.0Successful and Outstanding The element is implemented successfully at an excellent level of design.

1.0SuccessfulThe element is implemented successfully; it makes a credible and potentially feasible asset.

0.5PresentThe element is present, but the implementation is not fully successful, although there are no major errors.

0AbsentThe element is not present in the design.

(1.0)FailureThe element is implemented in an incorrect or misguided way that causes it to fail.

Table: Concept Criteria

Table: Representa tion Criteria

Table: Space Architecture Features

Department for Building Construction and Design - HB 2 (Prof. Gerhard Steixner)

Design studio 2012

Studio directed by: Dr. Häuplik-Meusburger Sandra & DI Lu San-Hwan

External project evaluation: Dr. Marc M. Cohen

Projects by:

Abele Maximilian Urs, Miran Badzak, Benesch Ottokar, Czech Marcus, Demirtas Tarik, Galonja Daniel, Hengl Karl, Heshmatpour Christian, Khouni Amine, Klaus Julia, Kolaritsch Alexander, Krljes Dario, Küpeli Betül, Lang

Elisabeth, Lazarova Yoana, Lukacs David, Milchram

Thomas, Mörtl Christian, Mulic Aida, Nagy Petra Panna, Nanu Alexander, Pluch Kerstin, Rossetti Vittorio, Shi Yin, Siedler Daniela, Stefan Kristoffer, Steinschifter Mark

Only 12 people have set foot on the Moon so far. Since December 1972 no one has been there at all...

During the 2012 spring term 25 students in the Master of Architecture program realized their vision of a future research base on the Moon. Re-thinking design challenges through a change of perspective (i.e. extraterrestrial environment) has been a critical part of this design studio. This course has been accompanied by theme-specific lectures and workshops with space experts.

ISBN 978-3-200-02861-6