Vol. 2, No. 4: Oct.-Dec., 1989Special Design Project Issue

The Manned Lunar Outpost (MLO): a NASA/USRA-Sponsored Study

On July 20, 1989, the 20th anniversary of the datewhen humans first set foot on the surface of theMoon, President George Bush put forth his admin-i stration's agenda for the coming decade inspace and beyond "...for the 1990s, Space Sta-tion Freedom, our critical next step in all ourspace endeavors. And next, for the new centu-ry, back to the Moon. Back to the future. And thistime, back to stay. And then, a journey intotomorrow, a journey to another planet; amanned mission to Mars":

President Bush's commitment to a renewed pres-ence on the Moon and manned exploration ofMars are consistent with key recommendationsreleased in a July, 1986 report prepared by theNational Commission on Space which empha-sized "natural progression for future space activi-ties within the Solar System"; and "establishinghuman-tended lunar surface outposts, primarilyfor a variety of scientific studies" : A NASA taskgroup headed by astronaut Sally Ride endorsedthese recommendations. Their report titled,Leadership and America's Future in Space re-leased in August, 1987, concluded: "The estob-lishment of a lunar outpost would be a significantstep outward from Earth, a step that combinesadventure, sciences, technology, and perhapsthe seed of enterprise. Exploring and prospect-ing the Moon, learning to use lunar resources andwork within lunar constraints would provide theexperiences and expertise necessary for furtherhuman exploration of the Solar System ".

Site Model of a Mature Lunar Base

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SICSA is grateful to General Dynamics, Space SystemsDivision in San Diego and Houston; and Brown & Root,I nc. for donating funds to cover printing costs for this issue.

A Publication of the University of Houston's College of Architecture

MLO Rationale

A permanently manned lunar outpost can be animportant element of a space transportation andoperations infrastructure to support exploration ofother planets. Such an initiative can greatly ad-vance scientific knowledge and progress to-wards realizing self-sufficiency as well as possiblei ndustrialization of near-Earth space. Useful prod-ucts can include plants grown for dietary supple-ments, oxygen for breathing and propellant, heli-um-3 for nuclear fusion power, and a variety ofmaterials for construction. Examples of construc-tion products are structures and componentsmade of sintered and cast basalt, anhydrousglass, lunar concrete and metals.

The Manned Lunar Outpost (MLO) described in thisreport proposes early construction and opera-tional stages for a much more expansive andpotentially self-sufficient development which willevolve over time. Important study objectivesare to document key factors influencing site plan-ning and architectural design. Preliminary designideas presented herein are intended only asconceptual scenarios for illustration purposes.

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MLO Support RequirementsConstraints imposed by high costs to transportpeople, equipment and supplies to and from theMLO site dramatically influence nearly all aspectsof planning. This study assumes that a fleet ofheavy lift launch vehicles is available.

The space transportation infrastructure systems tosupport the MLO must include orbital nodes withaccommodations for vehicle servicing/refueling,assembly of large structures, and transfer of pay-l oads to and from the lunar surface. This study as-sumes that Space Station Freedom i s fully opera-tional, potentially augmented in its MLO servicesby other transfer depots and assembly facilities(spaceports) in low-Earth and/or lunar orbits.

Earth-Lunar Transportation ConceptSource: NASA JSC. 1989. Lunar Outpost. JSC-23613.

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Research Applications

The MLO can accommodate personnel who willundertake research that will yield informationabout the Solar System and requirements posedi n its exploration by humans. Astronomical studiescan utilize automated and teleoperated devic-es installed at sites which are remote from theMLO, including locations on the Moon's far side.A major MLO benefit will be to support installation,monitoring and periodic maintenance of thesesystems.

Astrophysics and physics experiments using MLOsurface detectors can measure and record solarwinds, cosmic ray bombardment and the effectsof these and other factors upon various physicalprocesses. Data can be analyzed at the MLOand/or transmitted to Earth for processing.

Geology and geoscience research will entailsurface EVA missions. Typical equipment includes

portable fIuorospectrophotometers, seismome-ters, radiation detectors, and core drilling/sampling devices. Some data would be an-alyzed by MLO crew and computers. Soil androck samples would be sent periodically to Earth.

Studies of human acclimation to the lunarenvironment must involve both physiological andpsychological testing. Non-invasive techniquesshould be emphasized to analyze immunologi-cal, metabolic, hormonal and anatomic reac-tions to extended low gravity exposure and

other environmental conditions. Typical equip-ment includes EKG and heart rate monitors andexercise/diagnostic devices.

Plant, animal and microbial studies will investigateways the lunar environment affects reproduction,growth and vitality of a variety of living organisms.I mportant concerns are health maintenance anddisease control; candidates for food production;and potential support systems for lunar agricul-ture/aquaculture. Important facility elements willinclude growth chambers, cages and fish tankswith means to control contamination, atmospher-ic pressure, temperature, humidity and light.

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Technology Demonstrations

A key MLO function will be to undertaketechnology demonstrations to support scientificactivities and advance industrial and agriculturalprograms. Some of these technologies mayapply terrestrial systems and methods. Othersdeveloped specifically for space and planetaryapplications may have beneficial uses on Earth.

Harsh environmental conditions on the lunar sur-face and severe limitations on available crewtime will require an emphasis upon teleoperated

and automated robotic systems. Since theMoon has no radiation-absorbing atmosphere,nor magnetic field to deflect radiation transportof cosmic ray nuclei, periods of extravehicularactivity (EVA) must be minimized. Significant ex-cavation and material processing operations, forexample, will have to rely heavily upon systemsand processes that demand little human inter-vention for control or servicing. The equipmentmust operate effectively and reliably underconditions of long-term exposure to temperatureextremes and abrasive dust.

A major technological objective must be todevelop and demonstrate closed, biologically-based life support systems. Processesemployed should be capable of collecting,separating and recycling valuable components

of solid and organic wastes, including oxygen,hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon. These materialsare esential for activities associated with humanhabitats and agriculture/aquaculture facilities. Ni-trate solutions produced in fish and shrimp pro-duction, for example, can be used as nutrients forplant growth, which in turn will release oxygen.

Candidate power system demonstrations in-clude advanced nuclear generators and solarcollectors with fuel cells for electrical/chemicalstorage. Helium-3, an isotope which is rare onEarth but believed to be abundant on the Moon,might be used as fuel for nuclear fusion powergeneration. Substantial amounts of energy will ul-timately be required for industry-scaled lunar min-i ng and material processing.

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Environmental Influences

Planning of surface operations on the Moon musttake important environmental conditions intoaccount. For example, the 1/6 Earth gravity whichcan facilitate moving of large items also posesproblems in creating resistance anchorageneeded by soil excavation equipment. Radia-tion hazards limit allowable EVA time, and pres-sure suits reduce physical dexterity during theseperiods. Micrometeoroid bombardment andextreme temperature fluctuations will deteriorateexposed materials. Sticky, abrasive dust will clingto EVA suits and equipment, potentially creatingfriction in mechanical connections.

I n 1610 Galileo characterized the Moon's surfaceaccording to two classifications: flat maria plainsand heavily cratered, hilly terrae regions (or high-lands). Maria regions contain both the smoothestand roughest surfaces, while the highlands havethe steepest slopes and moderate roughness.Regolith, a fine sand-like material composedprimarily of silica resulting from repeatedmeteroid impacts, covers maria areas to adepth of approximately one meter and highlandareas to about 20 meters. Oxygen-rich basaltunderlies regolith in the maria. Less densesubsurface materials containing substantialquantities of aluminum and calcium-rich rocks areprevalent in the highlands.

The most prominent features on the Moon, thehighlands in particular, are craters. Some are aslarge as 227 km (141 mi) in diameter and 5 km(3.1 mi) in depth. There are two types of craterorigin, one associated with volcanic activity andthe other attributed to impacts of meteoroids orcomets. The Moon also has mountains reachingas high as 6 km (3.7 mi) above the surface.

The Moon has two types of moonquakes: deep,periodic occurrences related to tidal stresses (<1on the Richter Scale); and stronger, less well un-derstood shallow occurrences (up to 5 or moreon the Richter Scale) which may be related tothermal stresses. These forces should be consid-ered in the planning of lunar facilities.

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I n Lunar Bases and Space Activities of the 21st Century, Lunarand Planetary Institute, Houston, TX.

Major Element Composition of Lunar SoilAllton, J.H., et al. 1985. "Guide to Using Lunar Soil and Simulants

for Experimentation." '

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Site Selection Considerations

Site selection for a Manned Lunar Outpost musttake a broad range of considerations intoaccount. Important types of influences includeenvironmental priorities dictated by MLO re-search and technology requirements; availableresources to enhance self-suffiency and possi-ble future industrialization; topographical featuresimpacting facility development and operations;accessibility to space transportation and logis-tics; and line-of-sight to Earth and orbitingspacecraft for communications and psychologicalcontact.

There are presently a large number of unre-solved programmatic decisions, technologyi ssues and scientific questions that make MLO siterecommendations premature at this time. It ispossible, however, to build scenarios that revealadvantages and constraints posed by generalMLO siting options. Comparative assessments ofalternative possibilities can then be made to cor-relate near-term and evolutionary implications.

Specific lunar science objectives can be ex-pected to influence site selection in fundamentalways. Locations on the far side of the Moon, forexample, would offer radio interference-freeaccess to the Solar System for radio astronomy.Site placement on the equatorial limb near a ra-dio telescope facility could enable communica-tions with Earth to be maintained. Lunar resourceinvestigations, on the other hand, might takeadvantage of Apollo landing sites where geo-logical conditions and soil composition are quitewell understood. Manned surveys indicate thatl unar regolith contains as much as 40 percent ox-ygen in some locations. Maria sites are known toalso possess large quantities of silicon, aluminum,i ron, titanium, magnesium and other materials.

An equatorial base on the near side would afforddirect line-of-sight with Earth for ease of commu-nications and psychological benefits to inhabi-tants. Far side or polar locations would require asatellite communication network.

Source: Dalton, Charles, et. al. 1972. "Design of a Lunar Colony", NASA Grant NGT 44-005-114.

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Hypothetical MLO Facility at Advanced Stage of OperationsDrawing by E. Akhidime

Site Development Considerations

The Manned Lunar Outpost would be developedthrough a staged approach beginning with a sitecharacterization and preparation phase andpotentially leading to a relatively self-sufficientcolony. Early stages which may occur over aperiod of a decade or more can be expectedto be very modest in scale, supporting fewerthan a dozen residents. Advanced stages whichextend beyond the scope of this MLO studymight conceivably have populations of 100 ormore people.

Pri mary habitat facilities during early (andperhaps all) MLO phases will quite certainly becomprised of prefabricated modules similar ingeneral respects to those planned for SpaceStation Freedom. Some of these modules maybe set into trenches and covered with lunar re-golith to provide "storm shelters" offering emer-gency radiation protection during large solarparticle events. (See SICSA Outreach Vol. 2, No.3: July-Sep., 1989 "Space Radiation Health Haz-ards: Assessing and Mitigating the Risks".) Others,covered only by canopies for thermal and de-bris shielding, might rest directly on the surface.

Protection from dust and debris ejected duringvehicle landing and launch operations is aspecial priority. This requirement applies to allvulnerable areas and equipment, including ex-posed solar power arrays, optical systems andpressurized storage tanks. Rocket pads shouldbe located as far away from these locations aspractical surface transportation permits andshould be planned to avoid overflights of facili-ties. Pad locations might take advantage of nat-ural surface barriers such as crater ridges ormountains, and should be 3-5 kilometers from themain base; ideally 10 kilometers or more fromdust-sensitive areas. Nuclear power systems, themost promising source of primary energy, shouldalso be remotely placed and shielded.

I nflatable structures can supplement prefabricat-ed modules for habitats, plant growth facilities,and storage applications which exceed trans-portation payload constraints for fixed volumes.Such enclosures can be rigidized followingdeployment by means of resin foams that hard-en within wall bladders when vented to the lunarvacuum conditions.

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Advanced Site Development ConceptDrawing by D. Lund

SICSA IVILO Site ConceptModel by M. Bunch, J. Lorandos and D. Lund

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Section Through Habitation/Science ComplexDrawing by E. Akhidime

Isometric View of Habitation/Science ComplexDrawing by E. Akhidime

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SICSA Model of MLO Construction ConceptModel by J. Lorandos and E. Akhidime

Site Preparation and Construction

Lunar construction must be planned to minimize

human effort and equipment requirements to the

greatest extent possible. This objective can only

be accomplished through coordinated planning

of all systems and operations associated with site

preparation, payload transfer to the lunar sur-

face, ground transportation and construction/

assembly processes. Robust teleoperated and

automated devices will be essential to compen-

sate for severe limitations upon on-site labor and

allowable EVA exposure to radiation.

Flexible Module Interconnect TunnelConcept adapted from Eagle Engineering

Section Through Regolith Retention StructureDrawing by E. Akhidime

The first crews to arrive at the MLO site may live in

a temporary modular habitat directly set in place

by a landing vehicle. It will be their roles over the

course of several missions to survey the region to

select the best locations for various MLO facilities;

deploy and check out surface power, transpor-

tation and site preparation equipment; and

i nitiate automated pre-construction operations.

Surfaces for future landing and launch pads,

roadbeds, and base facilities may need to be

l eveled, filled and "paved", possibly using micro-

wave heating to sinter the top layer of the lunar

soil. Trenches might be excavated to receive

permanent modules that follow

One possibility is to bury the first permanent mod-

ule entirely below the surface as a storm shelter

for major solar particle events (SPE) as well as to

provide a crew habitat and "construction shack".

This module might be similar in size to those

planned for Space Station Freedom. Some or all

of the larger surface modules that are to be add-

ed later might be enclosed within frame structures

with Kevlar skins to retain lunar regolith used as a

radiation barrier and dust control device. The

outside of these retention skins must be treated to

resist material deterioration resulting from ultravio-

let exposure. The depth of regolith required for

protection against primary and secondary radia-

tion effects remains an unresolved issue.

Flexible connecting tunnels can be used to join

modules together. These elements will facilitate

hookups and compensate for misalignments.

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Landing Pallet and Surface Transport ConceptSICSA Concept and Model by N. Moore, T Polette, L. Toups

Drawings by J. Lorandos and E. Akhidime

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Alternative Module Interconnect Concept

SICSA Model of MLO Construction ConceptModel by J. Lorandos and E. Akhidime

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Longitudinal Section-Habitat Module

Upper Level Plan-Habitat Module

Lower Level Plan-Habitat Module

All drawings this page by S. Capps and K. Murakawa

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Transverse Section-Habitat ModuleDrawing by K. Murakawa

Module Size and Configuration

The size and internal configuration of MLO mod-ules must be compatible with means to launchpayloads and land them on the Moon, accom-plish surface unloading and transportation, andundertake installation during initial and evolution-ary growth stages. A cylinder offers an optimumlaunch shape and good pressure retention enve-lope for rigid modules. Inflatable structures thatare transported in a collapsed state can providelarger and more varied deployed forms, but arel i kely to require labor-intensive integration of inter-nal equipment systems at the site. Accordingly,pneumatic habitats may become most appro-priate for relatively advanced MLO stages whenscaled-up operations demand substantial volumesand when crew and equipment resourc-es for systems integration are less constrained.

The 4.27 m (14 ft) diameter modules planned forSpace Station Freedom present the smallestpractical cross sections that will effectively ac-commodate minimum height requirements for 95percentile American males baselined by NASA.SICSA studies indicate that larger modules onlybegin to offer significant functional advantages

when the diameter reaches approximately 6.7 m(22 ft). At this point the cylinders can be dividedinto two floor levels, or can be transversely divid-ed into "bologna slice" segments large enoughto avoid seriously claustrophobic visual vistas.The transverse division is not regarded to be anoption of choice for lunar applications, however,because the upright multi-level stacks will be diffi-cult to transport over rough lunar terrain or to cov-er with regolith for radiation protection.

The two-level module concept illustrated in thisreport assumes that heavy lift launch and landingvehicles are available. The intent is to provideample yet economical crew facilities for missionsl asting a year or more. These 6.7 m (22 ft) diame-ter, 17.2 m (56.4 ft.) long units will be considerablymore spacious than Space Station Freedommodules, supporting as many as 12 crew mem-bers with supply storage and equipment accom-modations for extended missions.

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Health Maintenance Facility ConceptDrawing by E. Akhidime

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Work Station Concept

Control Area Concept

Crew Quarters Concept

All drawings this page by E. Akhidime

Interior Planning Considerations

Lunar habitats must provide the same generaltypes of crew support areas and equipmentsystems that are being developed for SpaceStation Freedom. For ease of integration, main-tenance, and changeout, most fixed interiorspace station systems are incorporated intoequipment racks and functional units. The rackscontain such items as health maintenance equip-ment, food preparation appliances, storageunits, life support and waste management sys-tems, environmental controls and experimenthardware. Functional units are enclosures that of-fer privacy and accommodations for sleepingand leisure activities, personal hygiene, showers,and toilets. Both the racks and the functional unitscan be conveniently pivoted down for rear sideservicing or removal. Similar devices might beused to contain and support many MLO serviceand system elements.

Partial gravity conditions on the Moon will causesome MLO interior layout and design features todiffer in significant ways from microgravity spacestation facilities. As on Earth, there will be amandated up-down "feet on the ground"orientation which will preclude the possible use ofceilings as work areas. Unlike in orbit, crews willbe required to sleep in a conventional horizontalposition rather than in vertical sleeping bagsattached to walls, requiring more interiorbedroom space. Alternatively, MLO crewmembers might sleep in small, enclosed privacycapsules within shared two or three personsemi-private leisure areas.

U.S. and Soviet orbital missions have demonstrat-ed that outside viewing is the most popularrecreational activity. Earth watching is particularlyinteresting and satisfying. Assuming a near sideMLO location, the Earth will shine brightly in thelunar sky, offering a primary visual attraction andsource of psychological reassurance. If themodules are covered with soil however, outsideviewing will only be possible during extravehicularactivities unless special observation cupolas areprovided.

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Work Station Concept

Control Area Concept

Crew Quarters Concept

Interior Planning Considerations

Lunar habitats must provide the same generaltypes of crew support areas and equipmentsystems that are being developed for SpaceStation Freedom. For ease of integration, main-tenance, and changeout, most fixed interiorspace station systems are incorporated intoequipment racks and functional units. The rackscontain such items as health maintenance equip-ment, food preparation appliances, storageunits, life support and waste management sys-tems, environmental controls and experimenthardware. Functional units are enclosures that of-fer privacy and accommodations for sleepingand leisure activities, personal hygiene, showers,and toilets. Both the racks and the functional unitscan be conveniently pivoted down for rear sideservicing or removal. Similar devices might beused to contain and support many MLO serviceand system elements.

Partial gravity conditions on the Moon will causesome MLO interior layout and design features todiffer in significant ways from microgravity spacestation facilities. As on Earth, there will be amandated up-down "feet on the ground"orientation which will preclude the possible use ofceilings as work areas. Unlike in orbit, crews willbe required to sleep in a conventional horizontalposition rather than in vertical sleeping bagsattached to walls, requiring more interiorbedroom space. Alternatively, MLO crewmembers might sleep in small, enclosed privacycapsules within shared two or three personsemi-private leisure areas.

U.S. and Soviet orbital missions have demonstrat-ed that outside viewing is the most popularrecreational activity. Earth watching is particularlyi nteresting and satisfying. Assuming a near sideMLO location, the Earth will shine brightly in thelunar sky, offering a primary visual attraction andsource of psychological reassurance. If themodules are covered with soil however, outsideviewing will only be possible during extravehicularactivities unless special observation cupolas areprovided.

All drawings this page by E. Akhidime

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Habitation/Science Complex under Construction

Drawing by E. Akhidime

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SICSA Background

SICSA is a nonprofit research, design and educationentity of the University of Houston College of Archi-tecture. The organization's purpose is to undertakeprograms which promote international responses tospace exploration and development opportunities.I mportant goals are to advance peaceful and be-neficial uses of space and space technology and toprepare professional designers for challengesposed by these developments. SICSA also works toexplore ways to transfer space technology for Earthapplications.

SICSA provides teaching, technical and financialsupport to the Experimental Architecture graduateprogram within the College of Architecture. The pro-gram emphasizes research and design studies di-rected to habitats where severe environmental con-ditions and/or critical limitations upon labor, materialsand capital resources pose special problems. Grad-uate students pursue studies which lead to a Masterof Architecture degree.

SICSA Outreach highlights key space develop-ments and programs involving our organization, ournation, our planet and our Solar System. The publica-tion is provided free of charge as a public service toreaders throughout the world. Inquiries about SICSAand Experimental Architecture programs, or articles inthis or other issues of SICSA Outreach, should be sentto Professor Larry Bell, Director.

Project Team Leaders and Consultants:L. Bell, G. Trotti, D. Neubek and Dr. A. Binder.Graduate Student Project Team Members:Pictured (1988-89): K. Murakawa, S. Capps, D. Lund,(seated); E. Akhidime, J. Lorandos, (standing); M.Bunch (missing). Not pictured (1987-88): N. Moore, T.Palette and L. Toups.

The MLO study which began in September 1987,was conducted by graduate students in the Ex-perimental Architecture program under supervi-sion of SICSA faculty and staff. Activities are be-i ng coordinated with multiple advanced planninggroups at the NASA Johnson Space Centerthrough the auspices of the NASA/USRA Universi-ty Advanced Design Program. NASA's projectadvisor is Dr. Michael B. Duke, Chief of the NASAJSC Solar System Exploration Division.

Room 122 ARC, University of Houston4800 Calhoun, Houston, Texas 77004

Budget No. 33101440008

Address Correction Requested

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