Establishing a Biosphere Beyond the Earth: Concepts and Challenges Involved in Developing a Large-Scale Habitat on the Moon

Details Establishing a Biosphere Beyond the Earth: Concepts and Challenges Involved in Developing a Large-Scale Habitat on the Moon Establishing a Biosphere Beyond the Earth: Concepts and Challenges Involved in Developing a Large-Scale Habitat on the Moon

Jan 2002

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002iaf..confe.231m&link_type=abstract

IAF abstracts, 34th COSPAR Scientific Assembly, The Second World Space Congress, held 10-19 October, 2002 in Houston, TX, USA.,

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The potential for future permanent human colonies beyond the Earth is one of fundamental justifications for space exploration and development. During the past several decades, there have been various studies addressing the topic large, Earth biosphere-equivalent habitats in space. The best known of these have been based on two--sometimes competing--concepts. The first is the idea of deploying large artificial habitats at one of the stable Earth-Moon Libration Points (typically "L-5"). These habitats would be established to support economically-driven activities such as the erection of numerous solar power satellites (SPS) in geostationary Earth orbit (GEO). The second approach involves terraforming the planet Mars in the very far term. The latter is conceptualized as a "mega-project" for the human species, with broad species- preservation related import, but essentially no economic benefit in the foreseeable future. Studies involving habitats on the Moon have tended toward discussions and concepts limited to a lunar "base" or "outpost". These have typically involved relatively small habitable volumes imported to--or constructed on and/or under--the lunar surface. Nevertheless, the Moon also represents an important candidate for possible future colonization (as illustrated in numerous treatments of the subject in the popular media). As such, the concept of a large, lunar-based colony presents both unique difficulties and opportunities in comparison to other options. This paper will take a fresh look at the concept of establishing a human colony on the Moon in light of current projections of technologies that should be available in the next 50 years. Following a summary of selected past space colony studies, the paper will address three major topics: the potential economic foundations for a large lunar colony, the principle engineering challenges associated with such an undertaking, and the capabilities required for success. The paper will sketch one concept and present an integrated scenario (and timeline) for the creation of a large-size, self-sustaining Moon- based biosphere. It will conclude with a summary of nearer term research and technology efforts needed to enable lunar colonization to become a serious possibility during the coming decades.

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