LUNAR SCOUTING UNIT

Project by Esat Sehi

CREW 2 - 3 astronauts

MISSION LENGTH 7 to 30 days

MISSION OBJECTIVE scouting for new areas, preliminary research

LOCATION various scouting locations airlocks, providing short term habitat and research facility (PDU) covers the initial openings and creates the space between the PDU and the hatchet into short term protected ‘garden‚. underground and/or other naturaly protected cavities / openigs from hazards Lunar features. design. Deployable and Inflatable units provide comfortable habitable conditions in extreme enviroment. establish the perfect location for future Lunar Village

CONSTRUCT I ON double layered sandwich aluminium shielding with kevlar fabric & Nextel in the intermediate bumper. Carbonfibre membranes, Nextel ceramic & foam, Nomex fireproof material.

Exploring natural and artificial openings. The openings are closed with deployable airlocks, providing short term habitation and a research facility.

It is important to research and explore the unknown and to provide humanity with all information about the Moon. Research questions include: What are possibilities for building, how and for what can we use ISRU such as regolith, where are places for a safe stay, and how can we best extract water for future breeding and cultivation etc.

Multiple different parametric deployable units cover the initial openings and transform the space between the unit and the hatches into short term protected ‘garden‘.

Exploring natural and artificial openings.

Psychological aspects play an important role in rover design. Deployable and inflatable units provide comfortable habitable conditions in extreme environment.

Two pressurised lunar scouting units can be connected with each other. In addtion, an inflatable structure can be deployed, allowing the crew to comfortably live in an extreme environment.

Deployable), each with 2 crew members connect with each other through the airlocks of the deployable and/or through the Inflatable. like packed membrane that is being inflated for longer duration missions (> 7 days), thus allowing the crew a comfortable habitat in extreme enviroment.

Comments by David Nixon

+ Scouting implies full mobility, which this scheme begins to develop with a detailed drawing of an adaptable vehicle that divides and transforms into an inflatable structure of some kind.

- The inflatable structure has a complicated and irregular form that is incompatible with the high internal pressurisation required (i.e. concave depressions will billow out).

. Comments by Miriam Dall‘Igna

+ Very interesting mobile exploration unit idea. Open Questions: The system parts and system itself could be explored in greater detail.

Lunar Socialiser

CREW 2-6 people

MISSION LENGTH max 14 days

MISSION OBJECTIVE connecting the Moon village, relaxation and exchange

LOCATION moving over the Moon

CONSTRUCT I ON prefabricated module people. Once this is achieved, the lunar social network can start to develop. Its use is intended for everyone living and working on the Moon. The main concept of the lunar social network are the Lunar Socialiser vehicles, which would connect different Moon bases and also transport people from one base to another, offering them a completely different experience during the voyage.

One of the crucial issues of the whole Moon Village experience are social aspects and challenges the inhabitants will be confronted with. The Lunar Socialiser stimulates people to engage and spend more time with their fellow villagers, and offers activities and content for which they would not necessarily have the time, or the means at their base.

Because everyday life on the Moon would be very psychologically demanding and monotonous, the project aims to give the inhabitants the opportunity to physically connect with people from other Moon units. The lunar social network isn’t tied to one specific location. In order for it to function the assumption is made, that there are already several Moon bases populated with

Analogies from Earth helped develop the concept for the Moon. One of the examples are semi-nomadic societies like the Tuareg people, who inhabit the Sahara desert since the 5th century. Their voyages through the desert in caravans, riding on camels, facing all the environmental difficulties have a lot of similarities with what Lunar Socialisers are trying to accomplish.

1 Transportation from Earth to Moon

2 Zoom in 3 Socialiser’s path

4 Docking

5 Travelling / Exploring mode

6 Charging mode

Another aspect of our project is the charging/docking stations which would be located on the paths between the moon bases. One of our proposals for the location of the stations is the trio of craters Ptolemaeus, Alphonsus, and Arzachel, north-east of Mare Nubium. This is a very interesting area carved with long valleys and would provide an excellent opportunity for sightseeing and retreat from the base.

The Socialiser weights about three to four tons, which means that the 16 t Falcon 9 heavy payload would be enough to carry up to four vehicles in one trip.

One Lunar Socialiser vehicle would be able to carry between 2 to 6 people and it would be operated from a fixed control deck at the front of the vehicle. It is called The Socialiser because the idea is that the vehicle is not just a transportation system, but that it also offers enough space and content to make the trip between the bases interesting and stimulating.

Comments by David Nixon

+ Another scheme with the emphasis on mobility that is handled well with a flexible docking station approach to enable crew contact and interchange.

+ Expandable/retractable module volume is a clever solution to increased habitat volume on an intermittent basis.

- More definition of the vehicle design and construction would have been a valuable addition.

Comments by Miriam Dall‘Igna

+ Clear concept of increasing human interaction in the context of isolation and confinement.

+ Great sketches.

Could develop the detailing of the units a bit further. Open Questions: The units could be developed with greater detail.