Hassell, an international design firm, has revealed concept designs for a sustainable, scalable moon base composed of inflatable pods that could one day house astronauts on extended lunar missions. The proposals were commissioned by the European Space Agency (ESA) and envision small, interconnected habitats with 3D-printed shell structures that could be expanded over time to form a larger base.
Key Details
- Hassell designed a series of pod-like units that could dock together to form the lunar base
- Each pod would inflate after landing, providing a rigid shelter for astronauts
- Lightweight shell structures would be 3D printed using lunar regolith prior to launch
- The base could be expanded by sending additional units, allowing incremental scalability
- Goal is to create sustainable, functional habitats to enable long-duration lunar exploration
Background
Interest in lunar exploration has grown recently within space agencies and private companies. NASA plans to send astronauts back to the Moon this decade under the Artemis program. The ESA and other space organizations also hope to establish a permanent human presence on the lunar surface in the coming years.
Modular, inflatable habitats are an efficient way to provide shelter for moon explorers while reducing weight and costs. The Hassell concept builds on past inflatable habitat designs with the unique addition of 3D printed shell structures. If realized, it could provide a model for sustainable, long-term settlement on the Moon and beyond.
Outlook
The Hassell proposal provides important concepts that could inform future lunar base architectures. Key next steps would include testing inflatable module prototypes, analyzing the feasibility of extracting and 3D printing with lunar regolith, and conducting mission simulations to evaluate human factors.
Ongoing advances in space technology and materials science could one day enable a version of this design to house astronauts on the lunar surface for months at a time, paving the way for exciting new discoveries and preparing for eventual missions to Mars. Realizing this vision will require substantial investments and innovations in the coming years – but Hassell’s modularity and scalability provide thought-provoking solutions.
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