Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Wernher von Braun with his 1952 design of a lunar lande.
Credit: US Information Agency

Blowing off the dust of history regarding architecture on the Moon by the U.S. and Soviet space programs offers unique perspectives.

One example of engineering and management capabilities is the development and inclusion of the deployable lunar roving vehicle (LRV). Other examples include a US project Horizon – a study to set up a lunar military outpost conducted in 1959.

A new research paper – “Reflections on early lunar base design – From sketch to the first moon landing” – offers a glimpse into the past, to take a new look at Moon bases.

The paper was written by two space architects, Sandra Haeuplik-Meusburger and Olga Bannova, published in the journal Icarus.

Objectives: may change with time

Based on a historical overview of achievements, lunar architectural and design approaches offered design strategies for creating space systems, spacecraft and habitats for follow-on decades, the paper notes.

“History taught us that space mission scenarios and objectives often may change with time,” the researchers point out. Therefore, designers and architects looked for adaptable interior arrangements in order to meet various crew needs while complying with launch and landing restrictions.

Soviet-era crewed lunar lander design.
Credit: Sandra Haeuplik-Meusburger, et al.

“Developing a sustainable human exploration on the Moon proposes living off the lander during first surface missions and transferring to a larger habitat with a larger crew when it becomes feasible for the mission success,” the paper adds.

Capable of modifications

Multi-staged approaches to establishing surface settlements on the surface of the Moon have been long proposed.

Illustration of Moon Village concept
Credit: ESA/P. CARRIL

“After successful but expensive Apollo sortie missions, it became clear that sustainable lunar habitation and operations will require reusable systems and elements, where every surface element is designed for continuous operations and capable of modifications for diverse missions’ needs,” the paper explains.

To read – “Reflections on early lunar base design – From sketch to the first moon landing” – go to:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094576522004866?dgcid=raven_sd_aip_email#!