Part 4 - ENVISIONING THE MOON VILLAGE – Space Architecture Design Studio SS2018

LUNAR SCOUTING UNIT

Project by Esat Sehi

CREW 2 - 3 astronauts

MISSION LENGTH 7 to 30 days

MISSION OBJECTIVE scouting for new areas, preliminary research

LOCATION various scouting locations

CONSTRUCT I ON double layered sandwich aluminium shielding with kevlar fabric & Nextel in the intermediate bumper. Carbonfibre membranes, Nextel ceramic & foam, Nomex fireproof material.

Exploring natural and artificial openings. The openings are closed with deployable airlocks, providing short term habitation and a research facility.

It is important to research and explore the unknown and to provide humanity with all information about the Moon. Research questions include: What are possibilities for building, how and for what can we use ISRU such as regolith, where are places for a safe stay, and how can we best extract water for future breeding and cultivation etc.

Multiple different parametric deployable units cover the initial openings and transform the space between the unit and the hatches into short term protected ‘garden‘.

Exploring natural and artificial openings.

airlocks, providing short term habitat and research facility (PDU) covers the initial openings and creates the space between the PDU and the hatchet into short term protected ‘garden‚. underground and/or other naturaly protected cavities / openigs from hazards Lunar features. design. Deployable and Inflatable units provide comfortable habitable conditions in extreme enviroment. establish the perfect location for future Lunar Village

Psychological aspects play an important role in rover design. Deployable and inflatable units provide comfortable habitable conditions in extreme environment.

Two pressurised lunar scouting units can be connected

with each other. In addtion, an inflatable structure can be deployed, allowing the crew to comfortably live in an extreme environment.

Deployable), each with 2 crew members connect with each other through the airlocks of the deployable and/or through the Inflatable. like packed membrane that is being inflated for longer duration missions (> 7 days), thus allowing the crew a comfortable habitat in extreme enviroment.

Comments by David Nixon

+ Scouting implies full mobility, which this scheme begins to develop with a detailed drawing of an adaptable vehicle that divides and transforms into an inflatable structure of some kind.

- The inflatable structure has a complicated and irregular form that is incompatible with the high internal pressurisation required (i.e. concave depressions will billow out).

. Comments by Miriam Dall‘Igna

+ Very interesting mobile exploration unit idea. Open Questions: The system parts and system itself could be explored in greater detail.

LUNAR SOCIALISER

CREW 2-6 people

MISSION LENGTH max 14 days

MISSION OBJECTIVE connecting the Moon village, relaxation and exchange

LOCATION moving over the Moon

CONSTRUCT I ON prefabricated module

Project by Aleksandar Mrkahic | Amila Imamovic

One of the crucial issues of the whole Moon Village experience are social aspects and challenges the inhabitants will be confronted with. The Lunar Socialiser stimulates people to engage and spend more time with their fellow villagers, and offers activities and content for which they would not necessarily have the time, or the means at their base.

people. Once this is achieved, the lunar social network can start to develop. Its use is intended for everyone living and working on the Moon. The main concept of the lunar social network are the Lunar Socialiser vehicles, which would connect different Moon bases and also transport people from one base to another, offering them a completely different experience during the voyage.

Because everyday life on the Moon would be very psychologically demanding and monotonous, the project aims to give the inhabitants the opportunity to physically connect with people from other Moon units. The lunar social network isn’t tied to one specific location. In order for it to function the assumption is made, that there are already several Moon bases populated with

Analogies from Earth helped develop the concept for the Moon. One of the examples are semi-nomadic societies like the Tuareg people, who inhabit the Sahara desert since the 5th century. Their voyages through the desert in caravans, riding on camels, facing all the environmental difficulties have a lot of similarities with what Lunar Socialisers are trying to accomplish.

1 Transportation from Earth to Moon

2 Zoom in 3 Socialiser’s path

4 Docking

5 Travelling / Exploring mode

6 Charging mode

Another aspect of our project is the charging/docking stations which would be located on the paths between the moon bases. One of our proposals for the location of the stations is the trio of craters Ptolemaeus, Alphonsus, and Arzachel, north-east of Mare Nubium. This is a very interesting area carved with long valleys and would provide an excellent opportunity for sightseeing and retreat from the base.

The Socialiser weights about three to four tons, which means that the 16 t Falcon 9 heavy payload would be enough to carry up to four vehicles in one trip.

One Lunar Socialiser vehicle would be able to carry between 2 to 6 people and it would be operated from a fixed control deck at the front of the vehicle. It is called The Socialiser because the idea is that the vehicle is not just a transportation system, but that it also offers enough space and content to make the trip between the bases interesting and stimulating.

Comments by David Nixon

+ Another scheme with the emphasis on mobility that is handled well with a flexible docking station approach to enable crew contact and interchange.

+ Expandable/retractable module volume is a clever solution to increased habitat volume on an intermittent basis.

- More definition of the vehicle design and construction would have been a valuable addition.

Comments by Miriam Dall‘Igna

+ Clear concept of increasing human interaction in the context of isolation and confinement.

+ Great sketches.

Could develop the detailing of the units a bit further. Open Questions: The units could be developed with greater detail.

LUNAR PORT

CREW 2 astronauts

3 guests

MISSION LENGTH astronauts: 6 months guests: up to a few days

MISSION OBJECTIVE lowering the threshold for space access LOCATION South Pole

CONSTRUCT I ON prefabricated module and in-situresource-utilisation for radiation protection

Project by Polina Baliuk | Rychtarik Patrick | Tetiana Frych

Summary

The ‚Lunar Port‘ is a joint project, bringing independent parties from the fields of science, tourism, mining and further economical areas together. The idea is to establish a transportation system between Earth, Moon and later on Mars and other celestial bodies. The project itself is meant to be open - everybody with an interest of getting into space is invited to take part. The final goal is to give all its participants an easy access to space. This can happen with the benefit of sharing technology and hardware in addition

Transportation Earth-Moon

to generating rocket fuel in form of hydrogen directly on the lunar surface.

In the future, there will be several moon bases for different uses. Most likely, the majority of moon exploration will take place around the South Pole.

The idea is to establish a central landing and starting point in the area. People and goods from different institutions could get there, have a short term stay and then move forward to their destination.

Rocket starts from Earth, fully fueled with hydrogen.

Energy required for a rocket launch from the surface of Earth: 32,9 MJ/kg

Controlled landing at lunar port. Approximately 20% of the hydrogen is left.

Maintenance and refueling the Rocket with oxygen. Ready for restart to Earth.

Energy required for a rocket launch from the surface of Moon: 2,9 MJ/kg

The rocket goes back to Earth. After its landing still more than 90% of its tank is full.

The Lunar Port is located at the South Pole, close to other bases and the frozen water deposits.

From frozen water rocket fuel is produced and brought to the port.

Transportation Earth-Deep Space

Furthermore, several craters on the South Pole are known to contain water deposits in minable quality. By electrolysis, water can be decomposited into hydrogen and oxygen. Amongst others things, these elements can be used as rocket fuel.

Because of the lower Moon gravity, it is possible to launch rockets and bring them back to Earth nearly fully fueled. With the help of reusable rockets, it is possible to establish a transportation system without consuming large amounts of resources from Earth.

Orbital Gateway at Lagrange Point EML1 (approx. 54.000 km from Moon‘s centre of mass). A satellite or a space station can stay here for years almost without traction.

A space ship starts from Earth to Lagrange Point EML1 and stops at the Orbital Gateway.

A ‘tanker rocket‘ is coming from the Lunar Port also to the Orbital Gateway.

The ‘Tanker rocket‘ is refueling the space ship.

The space ship takes off for its final destination into deep space.

Mining H2O at the South Pole for Hydrogen as rocket fuel.

Next stop Mars!

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

The final phase of the Lunar Port consists of four different launch pads and two rocket maintenance facilities. These are connected to the hydrogen and oxygen storages. There will also be a laboratory, technology centre, operational training area and accommodations. The whole area is supported by two greenhouses and several nuclear energy facilities.

The typical process at the port starts with a successful landing and transportation of the people by rover to the control centre, which also acts as a terminal in the first phases. From there on, people are brought to their final destinations by a cable car system.

Floorplan ground floor // Scale 1:200

security check

kitchen hygiene unit

administration air lock

storage

Athlete (NASA) for transportation of cargo

SEV (NASA) transportation of people from the rocket to the base

sleeping unit (guests) storage

Floor Plan upper floor // Scale 1:200

greenhouse hygiene unit

working space controlling of other facilities

sleeping unit (crew)

Section 1-1 // Scale

CABLE CAR SYSTEM brings the passengers to their final destination

Section 2-2 // Scale

CUPOLA for observation and launch control

INNER INFLATABLE pressurised and decoupled from the outer shell for meteorite protection

LAYER OF REGOLITH 2,00 m, 3d-printed

ADDITIONAL INFLATABLE as support structure

Comments by David Nixon

+ Incremental build-up through a three-phase master plan would fit well with a stretched-out budget that will be inevitable with any lunar base.

+ Interconnected modules shielded by lunar regolith shell is a straightforward solution.

+ Projecting control tower is an innovative addition.

- Earth-Moon transportation trajectories are more complicated than shown and low energy trajectories that use less propellant are applicable for non-crewed payloads.

Comments by Miriam Dall‘Igna

+ Great connection and link to other projects.

Open Questions: It would be interesting to see more details on the landing pad design. What are the basic requirements of current rocket landing technology?

More projects

MOON OBSERVATORY

Alexandros Ioannou-Naoum | Daniel Can Wittek

The main part of the lunar farside shall be defined by the UN as protected area in order to explore the universe in the interest of mankind (reference to a paper by Dr. Maccone).

The Moon Observatory project uses the natural shielding of the lunar far side from radio interferences, light pollution and infrared waves from the Earth. The Lofarantennas and infrared telescopes are placed on the farside of the Moon - in a semi-protected area. The Moon Observatory is situated on the near side of the Moon, close to the North Pole.

No building construction - No interferences

Only scientific researchMinimal interferences

The Moon Observatory consists of a hybrid central truncated cuboctahedron structure, to which inflatables can be docked. The observatory has been designed for 4 scientists. The concept allows the exchange of a variety of inflatables over time, which enhances the variability of space and function.

SPIRAL

Domagoy Krhen | Lovro Koncar-Gamulin

The idea is to establish a mining facility that would utilise lunar resources by harvesting lunar soil and rare Earth minerals for further development such as building materials, scientific research and new electronic services. The spine of the structure consists of a cargo elevator, personel elevator and spiral functional floors.

MATERIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH MODULE

Nadja Drageljevic

The Material Science Research Module will research and evaluate lunar materials to push the development of the Moon village. Material research will help to provide sustainability on the Moon and prevent any kind of material-caused pollution.