and Vision, MoonCapital, the Moon, 2010 Andreas Vogler The growing MoonCapital community with more interconnected domes.

M O O N C A P I T A L L I F E O N THE M OON 100 YEARS AF TER A POLLO

30 31 Cross-section through the domes showing top: View of the two base domes showing bottom: Cut-out rendering of the two base the interconnected inflatable modules inside the rover ports and inflatable daylight domes with the inflatable modules inside, standing on their own feet together with collection system on top. and the three ‘Paradise Modules’ inside the low-gravity sculptures to enrich the lunar large habitation dome. landscape.

MoonCapital is a proposal for a is an important contribution to the scientific solution that also allows humans a feeling of second-generation habitation located community. protected openness on the Moon’s surface. on the rim of Shackleton Crater at the The lunar south pole is the most promising The domes, over inflatable modules, lunar south pole in the year 2069, 100 location for a human settlement, since there form an intelligent skin, protecting from years after the first man arrived on the are peaks of eternal light, breaking the lunar radiation and micrometeorites and allowing Moon. Based on current and anticipated day/night cycle, which last 28 earth days. sunlight through a daylight-direction system technology and scientific knowledge, it On the other hand, a cable lift leading down inside. They are also a visible architectural develops a realistic scenario of how 60 into the Shackleton Crater would allow the testimony of human presence on the Moon. and more people may live on the Moon establishment of an astronomical research Built using inflatable and self-hardening 55 years from now. station with a large, deep-space telescope concrete technologies, they are covered In 2009, with absolutely no light pollution – a big step by a 3-metre (10-foot) thick layer of small worked on a series of extraterrestrial forward in the exploration of our universe. The regolith-filled sandbags, filled and mounted habitats, such as the MoonVille project, impact of micrometeorites in the south pole by small swarm robots, which also clear the to develop an architectural vision of a is also less, and moonquakes, though there site. Inflatable light receptors collect sunlight settlement on the Moon 40 years after the is not yet enough research on them in this and direct it into the domes, where it can be first moon landing. MoonVille was based location, are another issue to consider. used to translate the 28-day lunar day/night on the concept that the limited amount of cycle into a 24-hour terrestrial day/night energy and resources on the moon results A Modular Community with Low-Gravity cycle. A digital projection allows artificial in a defined size settlement, similar to a Sports and Sculpture simulation of the Earth’s skies on the surface medieval town, that corresponds to the Radiation is posing one of the most severe of the domes, and can also play movies. amount of available farmland. In contrast problems of human space flight, and this The smallest community and initial phase to this, MoonCapital is investigating has led to a proliferation of proposals consists of two domes: a large one for the principle of cellular growth based for underground lunar habitations. The the habitation and working modules, and a on a series of modules. The ongoing MoonCapital project, however, proposes smaller one for the agriculture modules to architectural research on how humans the building of domes covered with lunar produce food, and to recycle air and water. can not only survive but also live in Space soil (regolith) as a controllable engineering The modular system allows growth and

32 33 top: Interior view of one of the large domes bottom: Evening atmosphere at the showing the interconnected working and MoonCapital after a long lunar day, which habitation modules and the Paradise lasts 14 earth days. Modules above.

MOONCAPITAL’S DIRECTIVE IS HUMAN-CENTERED: THE INTERIOR PLANNING OF THE MODULES IS DEFINED BY SAFETY, SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS.

extension as the new lunar society develops. beneficial for the perceived spatial proportions Module Eden: the Lunar Paradise MoonCapital contains facilities for research, and keeps the pressurised volume low as In the larger habitation and working dome production and leisure, and a small hotel well as the environmentally controlled volume. of MoonCapital’s initial phase, three for visitors. Spaces inside the domes not However, the arrangement also provides ‘Paradise Modules’, or Module Eden One occupied by pressurised modules are large spaces for gymnastics, reaching up to to Three, have a normal earth atmosphere used for rover docking and maintenance, 6 metres (20 feet) ceiling height, in which to and contain aeroponic plants such as radiation-protected surface science, and enjoy and explore the low gravity. strawberries and apples that are in blossom low-gravity spacesuit sports like moon over the year and bear sweet fruits and soccer and moon tennis. Sculptures will A Stimulating Interior in a berries. These modules differ from the be installed in the vacuum environment to Monotonous Exterior purely food-producing, robot-controlled fulfil inhabitants’ desire for culture, but also MoonCapital’s directive is human-centered: agricultural modules: butterflies and birds to aesthetically explore this fascinating the interior planning of the modules is defined fill them with movement and natural sounds, environment. by safety, social behaviour and psychological tables and benches allow people to meet The inflatable modules are designed to needs. However, in reality a moon habitation there, to relax or just look at the plants, fit into a 6-metre (20-foot) diameter rocket is more a machine than a living environment hear the birds and smell the air, creating fairing, leaving many options open for future as we know it on Earth, and space architects a public park for the lunar inhabitants. The launch capabilities. They have a deployed therefore need to consider human needs transparent skins also illuminate the dome diameter of 11 metres (36 feet) and three even more carefully. MoonCapital creates and and can be seen from the windows of other levels. Main circulation is on level 0, from respects private, semi-private, semi-public and modules. Module Eden forms the green where level –1 below and +1 above can public spaces to allow individuals maximum heart of the MoonCapital and a connection be accessed. The modules are connected personal freedom in a confined environment. with home, the planet Earth, casting its blue by rigid carbon-fibre nodes that allow three Sensory deprivation is also a main concern light into the black Moon sky. 1 horizontal and two vertical connections, where the sky is always black and going and also contain noisy equipment such as out to ‘breath some fresh air’ is impossible: life support. The modules have windows environmental control (temperature, to allow views outside into the dome, humidity, pressure, illumination, olfactory), and virtual windows that allow a radiation- communication, audio systems and food are protected view onto the lunar landscape. all employed as stimulating countermeasures Vertical circulation is realised by muscle- to this. A combination of sensors and powered lifts and staircases. Ceiling height algorithms can individually react on the is kept between 2.4 and 2.6 metres (7.9 people and expose them to the unexpected. and 8.5 feet), and uses soft padding as it is Surfaces, decor, artwork and interactive easy to reach this height by jumping in one- devices such as electronic sculptures can

sixth of the Earth’s gravity. For the rather further enrich daily life on the Moon. Text © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Images © Architecture compact spaces, a low ceiling height is and Vision, and Andreas Vogler

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