PATTERN LANGUAGE: SETTLEMENT GROWTH

We used our understanding of the 5-fold pattern to design a specific grid which is suitable for every state of our lunar settlement. Starting with a lunar research outpost for a crew of six, which we’ll get into detail later on. This outpost can follow the pattern and grow into an even bigger research outpost with added modules and up to 16 crew members. It will further grow until a permanent lunar settlement is created, from which we can operate deep space operations and future Mars missions.

The basic template is the 5-fold grid. The three innate shapes, the pattern consists of, will be the base for our modules. Inside the decagon (the largest of the three) our inflatable habitat & greenhouse modules will be placed. The connector modules will be located between the inflatable modules and inside the pentagons. Through airlocks the smaller modules connect to the habitat modules, function as the docking station for the vehicles and are housing the suit ports as well as the Life-support-systems (LSS).

Sustainability and longevity go hand in hand. If one of our buildings on Earth is lasting over hundreds of years, while accommodating generations of humans, it must do a few things right. The floor plan has to be flexible enough to accommodate future scenarios. Moreover, the building should be easily maintainable, repairable, and possibly expandable. However, first of all it has to shield us from adverse influences and on the moon surface, we have many; Radiation, solar storms, micro meteoroids, high temperature fluctuations and a lack of oxygen.

That’s why we intend to build a protective regolith shell and create habitat clusters. This shell will guard the modules, vehicles, and the inhabitants from harm, while creating a flexible protected outside space for maintenance, testing and storage. To enable rapid movement inside the settlement, we intend to create a tunnel system between the shell clusters without the need to cross every in between module in the process. The last of the three shapes (the elongated hexagon) will be the base for the tunnel connector, from which to enter this system of shortcuts.