Lunar Habitation PPTX (Anyone can use it without permission)

LUNAR HABITATION
A QUICK OVERVIEW FOR
BUILDING HUMAN
HABITABLE BASES ON THE
MOON

THE MOON
SOURCE : https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/all-about-the-moon/en/

A QUICK OVERVIEW
 “LUNAR HABITATION”, in general, refers to the construction,
operation, maintenance of human habitable structures on the
lunar surface (of course, the moon!).
 According to present level of technology, we are not advanced
enough to build habitable structures on the moon, but are
capable to research the moon by artificial structures like
orbiters, landers, rovers, telescopes, observatories, etc. or by
sending humans to the moon, like the APOLLO 11.
In this presentation, we will have a very interactive discussion
on lunar habitats (perhaps, also called as lunar bases or moon
bases, where humans can live on the moon) – Construction,
Operation, and Maintenance.

APOLLO 11 MODULE, EAGLE ON THE TRANQUILITY BASE
Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_habitation

WHAT DOES LUNAR
HABITATION EXACTLY MEAN?
 Any long-term activity on the Moon, establishing human
habitation on the Moon. Therefore, it is more than the particular
surface space habitats and more specific than the moon bases
which can consist of any facility is called as “LUNAR
HABITATION”. Habitation is possible on the moon by building
moon bases or lunar bases, which are habitable structures on
the surface of the moon.
Lunar Habitation is not possible at present, but is certainly
possible in the near future as technology is rapidly advancing
especially in the field of Space Research and Habitations.
Currently, the Roscosmos and the CNSA are currently working to

A MOON BASE (OR COLONY) UNDER OPERATION
SOURCE : https://www.space.com/21611-moon-base-lunar-colony-guide.html

CONSTRUCTION OF A LUNAR
HABITAT – INTRODUCTION
 Building a LUNAR HABITAT on the moon. is a challenging task.
It requires supply of construction materials, workforce,
machinery and enough energy (such as food and water for
human workforce), etc.
Transporting these materials to the moon from the earth is not
easy and requires huge amount of propellants for tens of
hundreds of rockets to send these materials to the moon and
requires immense and effective collaboration of many countries,
if possible, the entire world.
But the question is, is it possible for a single country with its
space agency to build a sustainable lunar habitat on the moon,

HABITAT – GATHERING
MATERIALS - #1
 Gathering materials for the construction for a huge lunar
habitat (or base) is a challenging task. Basically, we can send
materials found on Earth like iron, aluminium to the moon by
launching rockets. But it requires immense amount of propellant
and hundreds of hundreds of super-heavy rockets from the
earth to the moon. It can be done by using materials found
abundantly in the lunar surface, for example, lunar regolith and
building bricks out of these.
 Lunar Regolith is a lightweight, durable and strong material
present on the lunar surface, which is made up of rock chips,
mineral fragments, impact and volcanic glasses and a peculiar
component only found on the Moon called “agglutinates”.
Another material which is more sustainable than the lunar
regolith is the Lunar Megaregolith, found below the lunar
regolith. Therefore, using regolith bricks is more reliable. These

COMPOSITION OF LUNAR REGOLITH
Source : https://www.nasa.gov/wp-
content/uploads/2019/04/05_1_snoble_thelunarregolith.p
df
LUNAR REGOLITH
Source : https://www.universetoday.com/153317/theres-
enough-oxygen-in-the-lunar-regolith-to-support-billions-
of-people-on-the-moon/

LUNAR SOIL AND THE MOON’S CRUST
Source :
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2019JE
006126
LUNAR MEGAREGOLITH
Source : https://lunarhomestead.com/homestead-
database/selenology/lunar-mega-regolith/

HABITAT – GATHERING
MATERIALS - #2
We can make use of bricks made of either
lunar regolith or lunar megaregolith which is
easily available on the lunar surface and can be
quarried easily. These bricks do not need any
transportation as they are made directly on the
moon. These bricks are very strong and
durable, as proven by many space researching
organisations, like the ESA.
 A new type of zero-water consuming cement
which is called as GEOPOLYMER CEMENT can
be used as cement for the “Lunar Regolith
Bricks” as water is not easily available in the
MAKING GEOPOLYMER
CEMENT IN THE MOON !!!
Source :
https://www.sciencedirect.com/scien
ce/article/abs/pii/S1342937X163041
17#:~:text=Geopolymer%20cement%2
0is%20a%20cementitious,materials%2
0such%20as%20lunar%20regolith.

STRONG, DURABLE BRICKS MADE FROM LUNAR REGOLITH BY ESA (EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY)
Source : https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/Bricks_from_Moon_dust

HABITAT – WORKFORCE AND
MACHINERIES - #1
 Sending humans to moon as labourers for building Lunar
Habitats from the raw materials which can be made in the moon
easily as we have seen before, is a difficult and challenging task.
It is because we cannot train a huge number of labourers, who
are mostly illiterate about aeronautical engineering, as
astronauts to send to the moon for the construction of the lunar
base. This task too requires huge number of rockets and
propellants to send this workforce to the moon which is not
possible. Also, the masons cannot build the moon base wearing
their astronaut suits, as there are huge number of restrictions to
body movements and there are many limitations in using tools
as they are wearing the astronaut suits.
 Therefore, it is not always reliable for us to use human labour

HABIATAT – WORKFORCE
AND MACHINERIES - #2
 Using solar-powered robots (like rovers) as masons for building lunar
habitats is a great idea because these are low cost, time saving and cost
effective. These robots (actually, machines) have great access to fast-working
machineries and tools than humans (who are in space suits), like high speed
and powerful robotic arms, which can lift objects of mass up to 2 tonnes!
These robots can use even the brick-making and cement-making machines
on their own (on the moon). A recent study and research by scientists proves
that 15 to 20 robot masons launched in a two rockets and sent to the moon
can build a complete lunar habitat in a year or two, with little human help
and assistance. These are solar-powered, which means these robots use the
energy from the sun during daytime on the moon and use the energy stored
during the day to use in the night on the moon.
 These robots can use a lot of tools easily than the human labourers who are
mostly restricted to usage of tools. Also, these robots work non-stop

A TYPICAL ROBOT MASON, PROPOSED BY CHINA AND CNSA
Source : https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/space/china-studying-robot-makes-bricks-lunar-soil

HABITAT - LOCATION
 Constructing a lunar habitat inside the extinct lava tubes with
an additional heater in the underground can increase the
temperature of the lava tube from −230
C (which is constant
throughout day and night unlike the surface which has extreme
temperatures, up to 1230
C during the day and up to −1530
C
during the night) to 25 - 300
C, which is hospitable by human
beings. Lava tubes also give shelter to humans from frequent
meteorite strikes, avoid leakage of air and oxygen from the
habitat, ultraviolet radiations from the sun and many other
harmful cosmic rays. Rocket launching bases can be built in the
equator, where it requires very less propellants and can be
easily launched into space than launching the rocket from Earth.
Water extracting plants can be set up in craters in the polar

OPERATION OF A LUNAR
HABITAT - INTRODUCTION
 Now, that we have seen how to construct a huge and complex
lunar habitat, it is now the time for us to learn how can we
operate a large lunar habitat efficiently.
 We need to deal with food management, water extraction and
purification, energy production and distribution, Air and Oxygen
supply and the last but not the least, Waste Management.
 The above mentioned tasks are all difficult and challenging,
but can be achieved easily in certain ways to overcome the
drawbacks in ensuring the regular supply of the above
mentioned conditions for humans to live a healthier and happier
life on the moon. Let us see how it can be done.

HABITAT – FOOD PRODUCTION
AND MANAGEMENT - #1
 Vegetarian diets are the best choice for humans living on the
moon, because rearing livestock on the moon is not a good idea
because it requires additional cost and other requirements such as
fodder, water, air, etc. Crops can be grown in a large scale in
underground habitats in vertical farming because these type of farms
reduce the space used.
 The Oxygen for the crops can be provided from the supply for the
habitat. The lunar regolith can be used as soil and has a lot of plant
nutrients. We can also add some fertilizers from the Earth for better
plant growth. We can manage the crop production in a more
scientific way. We can keep the plants in sunlight available at the
surface. We can also practice horticulture along with agriculture.
 This is how we manage the plant’s requirements and then produce

HABITAT – FOOD PRODUCTION
AND MANAGEMENT - #2
 The grains can be stored in a silo underground or in a granary
and by processing in suitable chemical preservative treatments
to protect from harmful microorganisms brought to moon by
humans or by any other possible means. Because some bacteria
are anaerobic and can survive anywhere in airless space. Fruits
can be stored separately after undergoing chemical treatments.
 Distributing these grains and fruits is more important. These
food items have to be distributed equally among the total lunar
population (selling via lunar markets) and we should ensure that
there is no people on the moon left hungry. As food production
on the moon is limited, people should not overconsume the
food or underconsume the food. Also, medical services should
be set up on the moon for the proper health of the people. The

HABITAT – OXYGEN
GENERATION
 Oxygen generation is very essential for the survival of the
population on the moon. Nobody can’t live without Oxygen. This
oxygen can be extracted from the lunar soil by electrolysis. By
using solar energy, we can perform electrolysis to separate
Oxygen from the metal oxide in the lunar soil (especially
aluminium, silicon, iron and magnesium oxides). Oxygen can
also be extracted by electrolysis of lunar water.
 Firstly, the lunar soil has to placed in a liquid electrolyte
(separated from vacuum by a separation screen to prevent quick
evaporation), which has to heated to 10000
C by using solar
energy. The lunar sand dissociates into cations and anions (like
Oxygen anion or oxide). The anions get attracted to the positive
electrode or anode and will form Oxygen gas due to the electric
field, which can be separated and collected from other gases by
using a membrane, acting as a filter. By applying this technology

HABITAT – CARBON DIOXIDE
REMOVAL
 Calcium can be separated from lunar soil by using heat treatment
methods or by electrochemical methods or by reduction by carbon,
which is proven by many scientific researches and can be applied on
a large scale. During the formation of Calcium Hydroxide by reaction
of calcium and water also produces Hydrogen gas, which has many
uses and is also a good fuel {Ca + 𝐻2O  Ca(OH)2+𝐻2}. This
obtained CALCIUM can be reacted with water easily available in the
dark craters of the moon as ice, to form calcium hydroxide, a very
good absorbent of carbon dioxide, and forms calcium carbonate and
water. The water can be extracted out easily as the end-product of
the reaction and can be used for other purposes, like drinking. Once,
The absorbent calcium hydroxide is fully saturated with Carbon
dioxide and has got converted into calcium carbonate can be
disposed off safely. By this we can remove carbon dioxide from the

HABITAT – AIR QUALITY
MONITORING
 An air quality monitor can be installed at various places in the
lunar habitat to check the quality of air which is being breathed
in by the lunar population.
 Various types of pollution-monitoring sensors like
PM(Particulate Matter) Sensors, Ozone sensor, lead sensor,
Sulphur dioxide sensor, Nitrogen dioxide sensor, carbon
monoxide sensor, volatile organic compounds sensor, Mercury
sensor and Other toxic air pollutants sensor(like benzene) are
connected to a microcontroller. The result can be displayed in a
LCD display and an alarm could be connected to the
microcontroller which could alarm everyone in the base about

HABITAT – AIR PRESSURE
CHECKING
 It is always important to check the pressure of the air in the
lunar base. It should not be too high, as it might lead to bad
health conditions like vomiting of blood due to increased
external pressure. At the same time, it should not be too low,
which may cause death and may be a symptom of air escape
through a hole somewhere in the base. A digital pressure
measuring gauge measures the air pressure inside the lunar
base. It has to be connected to a microcontroller. If the pressure
falls below the safety line, the microcontroller receives the
information and then stimulates the airflow regulator(in the air
inlet pipe) to reduce the airflow and the air outlet valve, which
send the air to the recycling Oxygen cycle or back to the lunar
soil) to open to a great extent to remove the air from the base
and reduce the air pressure to the standard value of 101.3 kPa,

HABITAT – LUNAR WATER
MINING AND PURIFICATION
 Lunar water is found in large amounts in dark craters in the
form of ice, roughly a billion tonnes, which is enough to support
the entire lunar population. The ice can be drilled and
transported to some places known as fusion(melting) places,
where the ice is melted either by directly keeping on the surface
of the moon exposing to sunlight and the water can be collected
in trays or by using solar energy inside the habitat.
 This liquid water should undergo Water
purification in a water treatment plant just
like that in Earth. This purified lunar water
can be distributed properly and we can
A WATER TREATMENT PLANT
Source : https://www.livestrong.com/article/128483-steps-

HABITAT – WASTE
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
 Waste management plays an important role both on the Earth
and in the moon(in lunar bases or habitats). There is a lot of waste
generate which can be segregated into 3 types – Organic
waste(from residues after food consumption, urine, faeces, etc.),
Inorganic waste(like glass, plastic, etc.) and Domestic Hazardous
waste(like Saturated 𝐶𝑂2 Absorbents, robotic metal wastes, etc.).
These wastes have to be properly disposed on the moon. The
organic wastes can be composted into manure by earthworms
from Earth. The inorganic wastes can be either reduced, reused or
recycled. The domestic hazardous waste(sometimes along with the
inorganic waste) should be either shredded, or should undergo
wet oxidation or by incineration in solar furnace. By this, we can
dispose the solid waste. The liquid waste like wastewater can be
recycled in a WWTP(Wastewater Treatment Plant). The gaseous

HABITAT – COMMUNICATION
WITH EARTH
 If the lunar habitat is in the near side of the moon, then direct
communication with Earth is certainly possible.
 If the base is in the far side of the moon, then communication
with Earth is possible with the help of a relay communication
satellite which relays the signals from moon to Earth and vice-
versa. By this, we can communicate with Earth from moon.
RELAY COMMUNICATIONS
Source :
https://www.astronomy.com/obse
rving/how-do-spacecraft-
communicate-from-the-farside-
of-the-moon/

HABITAT - ENERGY
 Energy can be easily harvested on the lunar surface by using
high efficient (95% efficient) solar panels which can harvest solar
energy effectively and can support the high energy demands or
needs of the entire lunar population. A 100 hectare solar farm
can support the energy needs of nearly 3000 people.
A TYPICAL SOLAR FARM
ON THE LUNAR SURFACE
Source :
https://www.powerengineeringi
nt.com/feature-
articles/powering-a-moon-
village/

HABITAT – ROBOTIC AI
ASSISTANTS
 Robotic AI assistants help the people living in the lunar bases
in a lot of ways. They are virtual assistants who ease our tasks.
These robots may do some dangerous jobs like moving to the
surface to fix solar panels, telescopes where humans cannot go
without a space suit.
 Also, AI can perform many calculations and help in scientific
researches. It may also monitor many advanced life-supporting
systems and so humans don’t need to waste their time in these
works and can contribute to other important works they need to
do.

HABITAT – TRANSPORTATION
AND LOCOMOTION
 Transportation and locomotion inside the lunar base is easy as
we can jump and float in the habitat due to less gravitational
attraction or pull by the moon than the Earth.
 But transportation and locomotion outside the lunar habitat is
a very challenging task because it has no air. It might take a lot
of time for humans in their space suits to move or transport
cargo from place to place.
 Instead, Advanced AI-powered rovers can be used for easy
locomotion of humans from place to place on the lunar surface
and easy transportation of cargo and other heavy goods from
one place to another, anywhere in the lunar habitat and in

MAINTENANCE OF A LUNAR
HABITAT
 Earlier, we have seen the construction and operation of a lunar
habitat. Now, we will see how to maintain that lunar habitat for
longer sustainability of the hi-tech base.
 Maintenance of a lunar habitat is a bit of challenging task. Yet,
it can be achieved through scientific techniques. The lunar
bricks are very strong, durable and have a longer lifetime and
also don’t require any maintenance. The scientific tools and the
life-supporting systems like air pressure regulator have to be
changed for every 20 to 30 years by using materials on the
moon or sending from Earth, to ensure proper safety.
 Like this, we have to check the validity and lifetime of the
items used in the base and require regular supplies from The

UNBELIEVABLE ADVANTAGES
OF LUNAR HABITATS
 Lunar habitats are a symptom of advancement in space
researches and colonisation in exoplanets and other celestial
bodies in the universe.
 Lunar habitats are a wonderful place for the growing
population in Earth to live in happily and without any scarcity.
 Also, They are an amazing platform for scientific research and
astronomy as the far side of the moon are a good place to set
up an array of space telescopes which are more efficient and
reliable than telescopes and observatories on the Earth, like the
VLT(Very Large Telescope) in Chile.
 Lunar habitats give us access to a large number of resources

THE AUTHOR
This presentation is made by :
 “VARUN RAJA . R, CLASS 8 – ‘A’,
VELAMMAL VIDYALAYA
ALAPAKKAM, CHENNAI – 600095.
For:
 “DISTRICT LEVEL SCREENING
TEST, ‘LUNA INNOVATION
CHALLENGE’”.
THANK YOU !
A TYPICAL LUNAR BASE ON THE LUNAR SURFACE
SOURCE : https://www.freethink.com/space/moon-bases

THANK YOU !!!
SOURCE : https://www.proposify.com/blog/how-to-say-thank-you-in-business

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