![]() While they indicate that the SpaceX Starshipwould be able to transport all the necessary components to the Moon, launch services could also be provided by smaller rockets like the Ariane-64, a modified version of the Ariane 6 that has four solid rocket boosters.Īrtist’s impression of a European liftoff from the Moon. From this, Herzig and his colleagues included an analysis of possible transportation methods (based on existing or planned spacecraft) for both the modules and astronauts. The lightweight and module structure of the prefabricated structures makes them very cost-effective for transporting to the Moon. These direct sunlight downwards into the habitat, where a cone-shaped mirror reflects it into the surrounding greenhouse. The mirrors themselves are composed of silver-coated Kapton, a polyimide film capable of withstanding extreme temperature and vibration. Above each habitat, a truss would be erected to hold a mirror membrane designed to follow the Sun through the sky. The prefabricated structures would be transported to the lunar landing site, where they would be inflated and covered in 4 to 5 meters (~13-16.5 feet) of loose regolith. During dark periods, power is provided by batteries and/or fuel cells. The use of “sunflower” mirrors that direct sunlight into the greenhouses.Covering the structures with a layer of regolith for efficient protection against extreme temperatures, meteorites, and cosmic radiation.Prefabricated ultralight inflatable structures.The concept comes down to three main steps, which would consist of: The goal of the study was to develop a design for a lunar habitat that could leverage lunar resources – known as In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) – and achieve self-sufficiency. The study was conducted with the support of the ESA’s Discovery and Preparation program, which conducts design feasibility studies of new mission concepts and helps formulate ESA exploration strategy. The study was conducted in 2021-2022 after Pneumocell submitted its idea for an “ Inflatable Moon Habitat” to the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP). ![]() Norbert Kömle, a researcher with the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW). He was joined by Gabor Bihari (an experimental physicist with the University of Debrecen, Hungary) and Dr. The study was led by Pneumocell CEO Thomas Herzig, an Austrian architect who specializes in the design of self-sufficient habitats for extreme environments. This “ Inflatable Moon Habitat” offers a cost-effective and highly self-sufficient means of establishing a foothold on the Moon. ![]() ![]() The habitats would be partially buried beneath the lunar regolith and surrounded by solar mirrors that could direct sunlight into their greenhouses. According to this study, a series of donut-shaped inflatable structures could be transported to the Moon at a low cost, where they would then be inflated. To this end, the Austrian-based inflatable structures specialist Pneumocell recently conducted a study to determine if lightweight prefabricated structures would be a suitable option. Nevertheless, there are many questions about how humans will live in lunar conditions and what type of facilities will be needed. In time, this activity could result in the creation of permanent infrastructure, a regular human presence, and the emergence of a lunar economy. In addition to NASA, the ESA, China, and Roscosmos, commercial space entities like SpaceX and Blue Origin are hoping to conduct regular missions in support of human exploration while also mounting their own private ventures. In this decade, multiple space agencies will send astronauts to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo Era.
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