IDEA

Throughout history, our ecosystem has witnessed some catastrophic events such as the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic explosion which jeopardized life on Earth. The Matsutake was among the first signs of life to appear in such a tragically alien landscape after the atomic explosions and today is a symbol of rebirth and regeneration, due to its extraordinary resilience capabilities. Matsutake is the most valuable mushroom in the world and a weed that grows in human-disturbed forests across the northern hemisphere. Through its ability to nurture trees, matsutake helps forests to grow in daunting places. It is also an edible delicacy in Japan, where it is sold at astronomical prices.

Looking closely to the life-cycle of fungi, we can see how its existence can be seen as a closed-loop system.

The first phase of the fungal life cycle is the spore phase. All fungi begin as spores that are ‘haploid,’ meaning they only have one copy of all their genetic information. This is similar to human sex cells, like sperm and eggs. These spores can travel vast distances from where they were produced by hitching a ride on another organism or even the wind. Once the spore lands in a favorable environment, it will germinate and grow a mass of ‘roots’ called a mycelium. These support the spore just like roots by finding nutrients to help the spores grow.

As the mycelium grows, it may encounter another, compatible fungi. If this occurs, the cells from each individual fungi can fuse together to form one, single cell. These fused cells are now ‘diploid’ meaning they have two copies of all their genetic information. This is like the rest of all human cells that aren’t sex cells.

These cells then undergo a process called ‘meiosis.’ This is when a single cell splits into two cells. Importantly, during this fission, the genetic information from each parent gets jumbled up and mixed together. The resulting two ‘daughter’ cells are neither identical to either of their parents nor each other. This is how fungi (and all sexually reproductive organisms) maintain their genetic diversity.1

All fungi are heterotrophic, which means that they get the energy they need to live from other organisms. Like animals, fungi extract the energy stored in the bonds of organic compounds such as sugar and protein from living or dead organisms. Many of these compounds can also be recycled for further use.2

1 https://www.plantsnap.com/blog/intro-to-the-fungi-life-cycle/

2 http://www2.clarku.edu/faculty/dhibbett/tftol/content/3interaction.html

Location

A 3d trace-mapping is performed robotically in advance in order to look out for possible lava tubes. The Base is located in the proximity of the Shackleton Crater, in the South-Pole coordinates.

Lava tubes create caves beneath lunar surface that could serve as protective living areas for future explorers. Lava tubes offer a stable temperature environment as well as shielding from solar & cosmic radiation, meteoroids and ejecta.

Future Vision

The idea of using lava tubes is integrated in the future vision of Mother Fungus. Although the future settlement will be expanded into a suitable lava tube, the Base will carry on its function as a research, production and surface outpost facility. Bricks produced in the Base, made of fungi and plant waste, will be used as construction materials.

Phases

.exploration and creation of a map of lava tubes on the south pole, near Shackleton Crator

SHACKLETON CRATOR

89.9°S 0.0°E

EXPLORATION - ROBOTIC

Payload

robotic | ATHLETE x2 solar panels equipment rover

.selection of a suitable lava tube for future settlement

.the Base construction on the Moon‘s surface

.excavation of a slope to acces lava tube

.crew arrival (6 people)

.inhabitation of the Base

.start of research & fungi-bricks production

.completion of slope

.preparation of lava tubes‘s surface

.start of fungi-settlement

.completion and move into fungi-settlement

.further use of the Base as research & production facility greenhouse crew materials for future fungi-settlement

.fungi-bricks: produced in the motherbase from a mycelia & plant waste; baked using solar energy

.furniture: produced from fungi on the Moon

.airtight inner layers, additional airlocks, necessary supplies and equipment for new habitat modules: brought from Earth on request