DeploymentSite plan

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

by Hochbau 2, TU Wien - Emerging Fields in Architecture

DESTINATION MOON

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.