Engineering

General designs for a lunar base or an interplanetary colony usually look a bit like the examples shown below. They are either like the first two images or are grandiose adventures into futurism set in some distant time as shown in the other two images.

The reality of these types of images is that they are fanciful and not set in a near or even possible future. The first two have fundamental flaws in their concept with the most obvious one being the size of the actual habitats. How were they maneuvered about and distributed? The next two images are more fanciful and futuristic than practical. (For the foreseeable future)

If we as a species are to leave this world and settle elsewhere we need to step up to the plate very quickly and be more practical in our designs. They may not be as pretty or grandiose as we would like but they would be functionally practical. With that in mind, the design I have illustrated meets many of the criteria.

The design I have illustrated below has many advantages as they are designed to be lightweight. There will not likely be any construction cranes in the early colonies so being of a size and weight that can be moved about and erected by a human will be important. Some of the advantages to this design include:

1.      Does not need a crane to build it

2.      Flat packable during flight

3.      Maximum size is based on space ship cargo interior

4.      Standard panels, easy to manufacture

5.      Multi-configurable to suit any need

6.      Human manageable size and weight

As interior living and working space will be at a premium the same panels can easily be erected as external storage buildings for machines and supplies. Panels will configure into a habitat building or hallway without modification. The panel design also permits easy attachment of one building to the next while creating a hallway between the units. Standard size floor and roof panels attach to the final configurations.

As you can see by this image it is possible to rotate the panel 180⁰ to join one unit to the next. The action could form a block of rooms or a hallway.

Side View - Module can be expanded to suit any purpose by adding panels. Windows and doors can be anywhere to suit the need and panels interlock to form a solid unit once assembled. Window and door panels are fabricated during manufacturing to ensure environmental and pressure integrity. Panel connections need to provide an environmental seal - OR - there is an inflatable sleeve inside that provides environmental integrity. Ceiling and floor panels are oblong to suit the size of panel assembly

This figure is showing multiple panels joined edge to edge to form the length of a building. In this case the blue and green represent two room units, 3 panels in length with a 2 panel width hallway between the two.

The room height would be dependent upon the interior diameter of the cargo hold on the space vessel but would generally be 7-8 feet high. The next illustration shows how this is determined.

This diagram shows how the interior diameter of the space vessel would affect the height of the panels. Changing the angularity of the sides of a panel permit more panels to be stacked together. This concept reduces handling weight but still permit the overall construction concept to be viable. 

The bottom right of the image indicates that utilizing a similar wedge design it is possible to maximize on board storage space for instruments, supplies etc for transportation. 

When comparing this design concept to a geodesic dome habitat as is often seen in artist’s illustrations of colonial buildings, this design is more practical.

Geodesic domes, though attractive and elegant have numerous flaws when applied to erection in a hostile environment.

1.      They produce height requiring cranes or scaffolding to erect them

2.      The added height increases air flow issues

3.  Geodesic dome configurations often require multiple sized triangles leading to construction difficulty.

4.     Additional structural material is necessary to join the domes together to form the complex.

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