Innovation and Architecture for Space. Lunar village.

new home

I want to believe that LUNAR VILLAGE is a matter of the near future, and very soon mankind will return to the Moon. What is the moon for humanity? - Intermediate stop before jumping to Mars. - Scientific breakthrough. - The economic effect. Extraction of valuable minerals and the production of unique materials. - Social effect. The possibility of uniting the cooperation of Earth nations in the implementation of expensive Lunar projects. - New HOME.

All these expectations require the creation of a reliable, sustainable base on the moon. Such bases are described in the conceptual projects of NASA, Forster - ESA and others. This is quite enough to meet the above expectations from the Moon. Such stations in the Arctic and Antarctic successfully serve humanity for more than a hundred years, but they have not become a HOME for people.

The author of his project proposes to take another step forward and tried to answer the question: what could be a full-fledged dwelling on the Moon. Create a human environment in the most difficult conditions of the Moon, organize space for life, work and recreation of settlers in such a way that a sustainable self-sufficient society is formed. And it is possible to give humanity a second chance: to start from scratch (who knows))).

Modular systems brought from Earth or systems assembled on the surface from local regolith will allow you to create an effective “earth polar station” on the Moon, in which brave people who are dedicated to science will work. This is, of course, important, and this is one of the stages of the exploration of the Moon. However, genuine colonization can begin only with the emergence of large-scale, self-sufficient cities-clusters united by infrastructure with a quality of life not inferior to the Earth.

In this aspect, according to the author, it is most appropriate to consider the arrangement of settlements in lava tubes below the surface of the Moon. Obvious advantages of lava tubes: - Protection against cosmic radiation, lunar dust and meteorite bombardment. Relatively favorable temperature conditions. - The finished natural volume long for many kilometers and a height of several tens of meters. (And even, perhaps, with a relatively flat "floor") - an ideal construction site.

The concept proposes the creation of vertical cylindrical structures inside lava tubes, in which a favorable microclimate is maintained. The structure is located under the translucent dome, which is open to the external environment of the moon. Such “units” are fully autonomous multi-level structures, functionally filled with everything necessary for human life.

"UNIT-1" are located along the lava tubes at a distance of several kilometers from each other and are connected by a monorail railway. In the space between these "oases" are located production areas - automated factories, mining quarries, high-tech innovative production, livestock farms and plantations. Thus, a linear city is formed, capable of developing.

Marius Hills lava tubes located in Oceanus Procellarum are currently well known. It is the largest volcanic field on the Moon. There is a hypothesis that there are deposits of lunar ice in the mountains, which will greatly facilitate the supply of oxygen and water to the colony. (Maybe sometime we will learn about lava tubes near the lunar poles, and this will be the most appropriate place to settle, since it will allow us to use solar energy all year round). The explored dip in the lava tube in the Marius Hills area shows that the canal depth is about 75-80 meters.

The space-planning solution "UNIT-1" is represented as follows:

A cylindrical structure with a diameter of 60 m, built from the "floor" to the "ceiling" in the lava tube. From above, it is open to the external environment through a translucent dome. The lower level is designed to accommodate technical equipment for recycling and life support systems, oxygen and water reserves.

Further above (at the level of the “floor” of the lava tube) there is a "Terminal" with the railway station, first-aid medicine station, customs office, admin office, lobby, cafe, store, rest rooms, and so on. The following levels are work offices and hostels. All these levels are united by a common atrium in "Guest Levels". This is followed by two levels of "Control Office" - the center of management and control. It has significant volumes for the placement of life support and recycling equipment.

Above are placed directly "Habitation levels". Residential cells are designed according to the principle that the architect Le Corbusier declared (Modulor, Uunite ‘d’Abatacion. Rationality and ergonomics of decisions is quite appropriate in the Lunar dwelling. The “Uunite‘ d’Abatacion ” module is divided into four parts and is installed inside the circle opposite each other a cross to the cross. Stained-glass windows of living rooms open onto the formed multi-level atria. The corridors lead to spacious halls where the central stair-elevator hub is located. Halls are also associated with atriums. This creates a sense of open space that improves light and air circulation. Each of the four residential blocks is equipped with its own isolated escape ladder and an elevator.

Below and above the “Habitation Levels” are levels with greenery (Lower Garden, Upper Garden). The upper levels are occupied by “Greenhouse”.

The dome above the atrium of the upper levels with a diameter of 36 meters consists of translucent prisms of moon glass created on the basis of regolith. The mirror redirects sunlight and protects against cosmic radiation.

At the heart of reliable life support and security lies the principle of duplication of system functions. "UNIT-1" receives oxygen from photosynthesis of plants located in the “Greenhouse” during a lunar day (about 14 Earth days). During the lunar night, the process is supported by special lamps. In addition, oxygen comes from thermonuclear reactors located in the production area, which extract it from lunar ice and soil. Water is extracted from fossil ice, and vapor condensation, purification and recycling of used water is also carried out. Energy comes from solar panels from the surface of the moon (during the lunar day), from the reactor, and from power plants using the principle of temperature gradient and recycling of solid waste.

Food for colonists is grown in hothouse “Greenhouse”, cattle and poultry farms from the production area are involved or a revolutionary method of feeding with vitamin complexes (a steak from a 3D printer) is used.

In the case of an emergency evacuation, the project provides for protected “rescue rooms”, four at each level. They are equipped with personal protective equipment, sets of medicines and food, sleeping places, and have a separate exit to the isolated staircase. In “Habitation levels”, the role of “rescue rooms” is performed by the entrance corridors.

The gravity of the moon is 1/6 from Earth. This greatly facilitates the design structural loads. Allows you to do more steep flight of stairs, to create large overlapped spaces. The main supporting element of the "UNIT-1" is the "Сrust" - a shell made of lightweight concrete based on local regolith (partially consists of light-colored areas, the number of which increases to the top of the building).

In the center is the core of rigidity (stair-lift node). The designs give stability to discs of slab-floors. All construction is done by an automated 3D printing system.

"Habitation levels"

Residential cells are designed according to the principle that the architect Le Corbusier declared (Modulor, Uunite ‘d’Abatacion. Rationality and ergonomics of decisions is quite appropriate in the Lunar dwelling. The “Uunite‘ d’Abatacion ” module is divided into four parts and is installed inside the circle opposite each other a cross to the cross. Stained-glass windows of living rooms open onto the formed multi-level atria. The corridors lead to spacious halls where the central stair-elevator hub is located. Halls are also associated with atriums. This creates a sense of open space that improves light and air circulation. Each of the four residential blocks is equipped with its own isolated escape ladder and an elevator.