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Lunar
Base Designs |
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"We can be sure that
those who come after us will think of much better
ways of doing these things - and will wonder at our
conservatism and our quaint, old-fashioned ideas.
And they in their turn will be laughed at by those
who come after them, when the Moon is only a suburb
of the Earth, and the real frontier is far away among
the planets. . ."
-Arthur C. Clarke
What will the first
lunar base actually look like? No one knows
yet, but many have been designed. In the 1950's
and 1960's, many designs were put forth by scientists
and engineers who hoped that by the next century
a lunar base would be fully operational. In
1992, the FLO design, the First Lunar Outpost reference,
mission was developed (and rejected) by NASA.
Igloos, railroads, buses, ecospheres, and domes,
have all been proposed. Inflatable structures,
underground structures, structures at the South
Pole, and space ports at lunar libration points
have all been designed. Hotels, laboratories, observatories,
sports arenas, as well as mining and manufacturing
plants are all very real possibilities. What
would a lunar base that you designed look like?
What types of power will be used on the moon?
Solar? Nuclear? Fission reactors? Fusion
reactors? Lasar beamed electricity? What
kinds of fuel will be developed for rockets making
the journey? Aluminum? Oxygen?
Hydrogen? Solar sails?
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NASA design for a solar powered lunar base |
What kinds of life support systems will
need to be developed for life on other worlds?
Water, air and waste recycling are all major
concerns. Read more about regenerative
life support systems. Visit some of the
NASA
sites on regenerative life support systems. For
more on regenerative
life support systems visit Discovery Channel's
SpaceRef.com. An alternative power source
for the lunar night is to illuminate the solar arrays
with laser power beamed from Earth. |
Historic
Lunar Base Designs
Early designs for bases included a design by Arthur
C. Clarke, the science fiction writer, published
in 1954. Igloo-shaped habitats were covered
with dust for insulation and an inflatable radio
mast was used for maintaining contact with crews
in the field. Power was supplied by a nuclear reactor.
The colonists farmed using hydroponic techniques
and electric monorails connected their habitats,
mining facilities, and telescopes. (Clarke's 1955
spy novel "Earthlight" is based on his plans.)
In 1953, the German rocket scientist Herman Oberth
designed a caterpillar-like 'moon car' that would
be able to cross chasms by jumping 125 meters! |
A 1962 design for a lunar base |
In 1962,
a lunar base study by John DeNike and Stanley Zahn
was published in Aerospace Engineering. Their chosen
location was a flat region on the moon that included
the Sea of Tranquility (the Apollo 11 landing site).
Their
base housed 21 crew members and was located in tunnels
dug into the ground or buried under lunar soil for
radiation protection. The base had 30 habitat
modules and was 1300 square meters in size. There
were seven living areas, eight operations areas, and
15 logistics areas. It was built in one year and was
powered by nuclear reactors. Some solar power
systems were designed but were considered unreliable.
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In
1963, William Sims proposed an "Architecture of the
Lunar Base," in the the Proceedings of the (13th)
Lunar and Planetary Exploration Colloquium. His
design was also buried beneath the lunar regolith.
The
site he chose was located between Agrippa
crater and Sinus
Medii and it included nuclear reactors for power,
a landing field for spacecraft and the habitat located
inside the wall of an impact crater. The habitat was
three stories high and had offices, workshops, labs,
living areas and a farm. Windows in the ceilings
of the top floor were insulated with water tanks for
radiation protection. Sunlight was reflected into
the habitat and throughout the facility and farm areas.
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A 1964 design for an above ground lunar base by the
Boeing Corporation |
An 1966 artist's concept shows a "lunar supply vehicle"
with a window at one end. The supply vehicle,
which is about 35 feet long crawls like a caterpillar. |
In 1966,
Philip Culbertson wrote an article in Astronautica
Acta titled, "Lunar Base Concepts and
Operational Modes." This journal issue included
many lunar base designs. Culbertson was then
the director of the Advanced Manned Lunar Mission
Studies Office at NASA Headquarters.
His plan
was to launch a Saturn V rocket each year over four
years. Rotating three-person crews set up
basic habitat modules, nuclear power facilities,
and fuel modules. Eventually the crew was
increased to 12 at the end of the build up period.
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1966 design for a lunar lander and habitat |
Culbertson
used the Apollo
Command Module and Lunar Module to send crews
to the moon. After the crew of 12 was reached, a new
lunar lander would be designed. An electric rover
was used to travel across the moon's surface, which
1-2 person flying units allowed crews to reach difficult
areas.
Build a
model
of the Apollo Command Module or Lunar
Lander.
In the same
issue of Astronautica Acta, Paul D. Lowman contributed
the article "Lunar Resources: Their Value in Lunar
and Planetary Exploration." He considered lunar resources
extremely important in the development of moon bases.
He discusses the uses of solar energy, water, sulfur,
oxygen, and basalt. He recommends subsurface mining
and the manufacturing of rocket fuel on the moon to
reduce the cost of the missions. |
In 1968 MOONLAB, "A Study of the Stanford-Ames
Summer Faculty Workshop in Engineering Systems Design,"
was proposed by Jack LaPatra and Robert Wilson.
This study proposed a moon base for the purposes
of a lunar observatory.
The base
was located in the deep crater
Grimaldi close to the lunar equator. Grimaldi
has a flat floor and is 222 kilometers across thus
providing a clear view of the horizon. The MOONLAB
program began with the first Apollo moon landing.
By 1976 a rotating three-person crew would live
in the first habitat for three months at a time.
The habitat had three stories, the top floor would
be used for storage and provide radiation protection
for the crew as it was buried under several feet
of lunar regolith.
The main
focus of this lunar base was the science program
including astronomical research. Eventually,
the crew would increase to six with the addition
of more habitats. By 1981, crews would live on the
moon for a year at a time. By 1982, farms
would be built. The farms would house plants
grown in lunar soil and be designed to produce 75
percent of the food needed by the crew. A
40-inch telescope was brought to the moon in 1984.
The final population of the base was 24, eight of
whom worked in the astronomical observatory.
37 launches completed MOONLAB and no lunar resources
were used except for the soil for shielding.
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Moonlab base |
Design Baselines
The objective of many early lunar bases was to
get material into orbit so that products and services
could be sold to support outer space development.
Some studies had the lunar base making components
on the surface of the Moon and blasting them up
into space.
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Surface
manufacturing capabilities for the purpose of building
up a lunar base using in-situ materials is a more
efficient technique and could be used to make steel
and glass-ceramic structural items.
A mobile solar reflector oven could make
the landing/launch pad, road surfaces, dome roofs,
etc. Most of a lunar base, in terms of weight, will
probably be produced on-site from local materials,
not blasted up from Earth, achieving the same goals
for far less cost. |
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A lunar
base will need a landing/launch pad, a power plant
(perhaps a solar cell array for daytime "peak" energy
and a small nuclear power plant for night time),
base construction equipment, a spare parts and maintenance
garage, a central control and communications center,
housing for the people on-site, and life support
systems.
To be constructed,
it will also need mining and manufacturing equipment
such as flailers or front end loaders and haulers,
and a solar oven to be used in materials processing.
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Lunar bases can be characterized by the following
five design terms.
Location
- Base site, environmental condition adaptations:
1/6 gravity, vacuum, lunar dust/regolith, solar
winds, cosmic radiation, temperature extremes,
fortnightly day/night cycle, etc.
Architecture
- Buildings, machines, roads, industries,
laboratories, observatories, equipment, rovers,
etc.
Personnel
- Quantity; rotation; mix; ages; medical
concerns; psychological needs; etc.
Activities
- Life support, astronomy, lunar science/geology,
manufacturing, power systems, communications,
transportation, etc.
Governance
- Government, management, capitalization,
funding, policies, etc.
Check out some space
colony design theories.
First Lunar Outpost Mission
In 1992, The First Lunar Outpost
(FLO) Mission and Design Guidelines were
presented by Kent Joosten of the NASA
Johnson Space Center (JSC) Exploration
Program. |
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A
habitat is automatically landed on the
moon and the crew arrives afterwards
in a lunar lander. The first crew of
four lives on the moon for six weeks.
The habitat is powered by solar power.
The
habitat in the FLO concept is not buried
under lunar soil. Instead it uses fuel
tanks to surround the cylindrical module
to protect the crew from radiation.
This early base design is characterized
by scientific research and lunar exploration
and demonstrations of in-situ resource
utilization (using lunar resources).
Explorations by the crew are conducted
on a daily basis using an unpressurized
rover. The crew returns to Earth using
an Apollo mission scenario. The
FLO Habitat is designed to be reusable
by future crews.
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In
1992, "A Horizontal Inflatable Habitat"
design was proposed by Kriss Kennedy at
the SPACE '92 conference.
An inflatable habitat made of composite
fabric landed on the moon and was deployed
there. A metal floor was used to
ground the 45 x 8 meter module.
The habitat had two levels and was designed
with high ceilings and stair steps.
The habitat was either covered with lunar
regolith or 'radiation shielding'.
Kennedy included a solar storm shelter for
the crew to retreat to when a solar flare
occurred. An airlock allowed crew
to clean up before entry into the base.
Supply and service modules for storage and
life support equipment were attached to
the habitat. Office space, a space
suit area, computer areas, medical facilities,
a gymnasium, laboratories for astronomy,
geochemistry, petrology and life sciences
were included in this base design.
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NASA
Inflatable Habitat design |
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An experimental
agriculture area for growing plants using
hydroponics was proposed. The crew had
an entertainment area, dining room, galley,
and storage facility. Each crew
member had a personal space with a bed,
clothing area and communications and recreation
system. Showers and toilet facilities,
laundry rooms completed the crew area.
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| Artemis/FLO
Lunar Base |
In
1992, a joint study was done by engineers
at McDonnell Douglas in the U.S. and Shimizu
Corporation of Japan. This design evolved
from NASA's proposed Artemis automated
lander and the First Lunar Outpost (FLO). |
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| The mission design began in
1997 with automated landers that collected
data, performed in-situ resource utilization
tests, and brought samples back to Earth.
Beginning in 1999, rotating four person
crews would begin six-week stays on the
surface. The FLO habitat would be
moved by an automated crane from the lander
spacecraft to the lunar surface and covered
with regolith for radiation, micrometeoroid,
and thermal protection. By the year
2003, the crew would increase to five, and
the lunar base would evolve to include astronomical
research and oxygen, hydrogen, and helium-3
production. The base would recycle all of
its water and convert carbon dioxide into
oxygen. By 2009, the crew would be
increased to eight. Two laboratories modules
would be staffed along with oxygen, hydrogen,
and helium-3 production plants. |
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In the year 2012, the crew would increase
to ten, and three new modules would arrive.
A Mars test facility would help scientists
and researchers practice and test systems
that would be used at a future Mars base.
A second habitat and a third laboratory
would complete the lunar base. Solar
power would be used for energy, and by this
time, 100 kilograms of helium-3 would have
been produced. This is enough to test
the helium-3 fusion system. By 2022,
the base is now considered a colony with
a staff of 15. The entire base is
considered a closed system now, with all
waste recycled and food produced in a greenhouse.
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Mobile
Lunar Base Project
In 1995, two Russians I. A.
Kozlov and V. V. Shevchenko proposed a
"Mobile Lunar Base Project" in the Journal
of the British Interplanetary Society.
Kozlov and Shevchenko
proposed multiple base sites for different
functions. For example, one location for
an observatory and a different location
for mining. Conservation of lunar
resources encouraged them to maintain
that mining should occur over several
small areas. |
NASA design for a mobile base |
They
proposed a 'mobile base' which delivered
automated equipment and facilities (some
also mobile!). The equipment is operated
from the base via a lunar-orbiting satellite.
The
Russian design for a mobile base focused
on lunar geology, geophysics, astronomy,
lunar resource manufacturing and future
lunar base infrastructure. The spacecraft
would be built at a space station orbiting
the Earth. Cosmonauts would use
a robotic arm to manipulate pieces of
the spacecraft and habitat together.
The mobile base detaches itself automatically
from the lunar lander after arriving on
the moon. |
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A three-person
crew lands nearby in a separate lander.
The crew brings an airlock and two additional
modules which they attach to the mobile
base. A second lander brings three
more crew members to the moon and an unpressurized
rover. A regolith scooper is used to cover
the area between the modules for shielding
from radiation, temperature fluxes, and
micrometeoroids. A cargo rocket brings
scientific equipment and a drill. The
mobile base is then functional. |
| Solar power
is used as a back-up for a nuclear reactor
that beams energy (in the form of microwaves)
to a receiving antenna at the base.
Crew quarters include six private cabins,
a mess hall, an agricultural facility
and a suit room.
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The Artemis
Project Lunar Base
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The Artemis Project has a plan for the
first lunar base. In their design, the lunar
transfer vehicle is a small habitat
with propulsion systems and support for
the crew during flight to the moon. The
flight follows a similar trajectory to the
Apollo flights. Upon arrival in lunar orbit,
the habitat separates from the lunar transfer
vehicle and lands on the surface of the
moon. The lunar transfer vehicle remains
in lunar orbit while the crew descends to
the surface. On the moon, the crew
configures the lunar base habitat for permanent
operation. On their first trip outside they
set up power systems, radiators, and antennas. |
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The crew explores the landing
site and gathers samples during a one-week
visit. They film their activities for
use in movies and documentaries. When
they have completed their stay on the
moon, the crew boards the ascent stage
and makes the two-hour flight to rendezvous
with the orbiting lunar transfer vehicle.
Interestingly the ascent stage is an
open vehicle so the crew must remain
in their space suits for life support.
After docking to the lunar transfer
vehicle the crew returns to Earth.
The spacecraft remains in orbit for
use on later flights. For
more information visit the Artemis
Project.
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Transportations Systems: A Lunar
Railroad
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In
1998, a lunar railroad system was proposed
in the article "Physical Transportation
on the Moon: The Lunar Railroad," by
David Schrunk, Madhu Thangavelu, Bonnie
Cooper, and Burton Sharpe.
The
authors proposed building a railroad
around the lunar South Pole. Teleoperated
robots would do the job. A circular
railroad would begin at a proposed lunar
base (called 'Newton Base') and be used
to construct and maintain a series of
solar arrays used for power. They
hypothesize that one kilometer of solar
array could produce one megawatt of
electricity. The materials for the railroad
and the solar panels would all be constructed
from lunar aluminum and lunar silicon.
The railroad would be 950 kilometers
long. The average speed of the train
would be 30 kilometers per hour. An
additional rail line would be built
to link the lunar base to the dark cratered
regions of the South Pole.
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A lunar base with both nuclear and solar
power plants |
Science Activities
at the Lunar Base |
NASA lunar base |
Basic
science is one of the primary functions
of the first lunar bases, and will
offer scientists an opportunity to
demonstrate science techniques and
data analysis in the field. Once a
base is operational, various scientific
studies and experiments can commence.
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"Environmental
Science: Environmental monitoring instruments
both inside and outside the lava tube
base were set up. Data sheets were kept
near each station and as participants
passed the station they recorded the
time, read the instruments, and recorded
the environmental data. Back in
the lab data was displayed as graphs
showing changes and relationships between
the parameters.
Astronomy:
During the winter months in which the
simulations were conducted, the skies
were dark by the time the base became
operational. An 8-inch reflecting telescope
was set up near the cave entrance to
examine star clusters, planets, and
nebulae. Young Astronauts identified
planets, stars, and constellations.
Cartography:
Maps are important for planning many
activities. Compasses, tapes, and inclinometer
measurements were used to map the interior
of the cave and surface in order to
find the surface projection of the underground
lunar base. |
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Sand/Dust
Analysis: Samples of the cave sands
were collected from the vicinity of
the base. In the lab they were examined
by microscope and other analytical techniques
(flotation; magnets; spectral analysis).
To counter the dust contamination, it
was decided a dry, anti-static lubricant
was needed. One of the researchers (Walden)
suggested an aerospace lubricant developed
by Ball Corporation and marketed as
a vinyl phonograph record preserver
called "Sound Guard." This lubricant
appeared to alleviate some of the problems
caused by the dust. Geology: Simple
geological analysis tools were used
at the base site. Young Astronauts collected
samples of rocks, sand, and cave-wall
mineralization which were then subjected
to oxidizing and reducing thermal reactions.
Some elements could be analyzed by examining
the spectral characteristics of the
samples. |
| Sample
Collection: Geological and biological
samples were collected, collection
sites and contexts were described,
and the samples were identified
by reference to books or experts.
Collections could be organized according
to criteria selected by the collectors.
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| Time-Motion-Design
Studies: In the process of constructing
the lunar base and using the components
for housekeeping, science studies, etc.,
design and procedural changes would be
suggested by experience. This was a version
of time-and-motion efficiency studies
and human-engineered design work. Thanks
to the modular construction system of
the facility, designs could be changed
easily. Lightweight system components
could be physically rearranged even after
construction in order to improve efficiency
or answer to other needs. Other problems
were best addressed by modifying the work
procedures or reassigning personnel."
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Lunar
Libration Point Space Port |
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In
1992, Norbert Lemke of the Technical
University of Berlin presented "The
L1 Transportation Node," at the 43rd
Congress of the International Astronautical
Federation. Lemke proposed a
space station at L1, the libration
point located close to the moon.
He recommended an L1 space station
as a port for flights between the
Earth and a future lunar base, as
well as spacecraft going to Mars and
other planets.
The Lagrange-1 (L1) point
is the neutral gravity point between
the Sun and the Earth. Lagrange points
are points between two orbiting masses
in which the gravitational pulls from
both bodies are balanced exactly with
the centripetal force required to
rotate with them. Objects at these
points then orbit at a constant distance
from both masses. The L1 point is
one percent of the way to the sun,
or four times the distance from Earth
to the moon, or about one million
miles away from Earth.
Lemke
points out that this location could
provide a space port for passenger
pick up and drop off, and for maintenance
and refueling of space vehicles.
He also considers an L1 port as a
node for communications and data transmissions
and even a future laser power station!
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Future
Space Port |
Questions to think about:
- Many different types of lunar
bases were described in this lesson.
Current thinking leans towards using
lunar resources to build the base
instead of bringing things from
Earth. Do you agree?
- Which design interested you the
most? Why?
- Would you choose to build above
or below ground (say in a lava tube)?
- What types of science experiments
would you focus on in your Moon
Base Alpha design?
- What types of laws, government
and chief officials would be needed
at your lunar base?
Next... Stepping
Stone to Mars (pg 9 of 9) |
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