Initially small housing modules, energy from the sun and then from the atom, a single vehicle to move. Then growth, but evolution will take decades, as the experience of the International Space Station has taught
NASA’s plan for the next lunar base is taking shape. It will be divided into three phases and presents concrete technological challenges that are far from resolved. In practice, while offering great perspectives, US space agency officials explained the situation and its critical issues during the Lunar Surface Consortium, a two-day event held on October 14 in Atlanta (Georgia).
In this location, Nujoud Merancyprogram lead at the Directorate for Manned Missions, said: “We ask ourselves how we can simplify large systems by taking care of the simplest aspects first, but learning as we go about elements for which we are willing to accept a greater margin of risk. This is one of the key aspects of the phases we have established for the moon base, so that when we tackle the more complex components we will be confident that they will work. Maybe we’ll even be able to move forward more quickly than expected because we won’t have to solve every problem at the same time. This will be the real challenge that awaits us.”
The various phases and timing of the lunar base
A timing problem exists: Jared Isaacmanadministrator of NASA, had already presented the lunar base initiative last March due to the fear that China could skip ahead and arrive before the United States. The current objective remains to create a human outpost as self-sufficient as possible in the region of the lunar south pole where there is water ice underground and precious mineral resources. These, properly processed, could support human life and even be used to produce the propellant for departing rockets, i.e. liquid hydrogen and oxygen. And it is known that the initiative does not exclusively concern the Moon: it also aims to prepare future human missions to Mars and to maintain a constant human presence in low Earth orbit.
Phase 1 of the lunar base, already underway and scheduled to run until 2029, focuses on ensuring that astronauts and equipment can reliably reach the lunar south pole and return, while testing new technologies. Phase 2 will take place from 2029 to 2032 and, taking advantage of the knowledge acquired during the previous one, will see the installation of the infrastructure necessary for astronauts for longer stays. It means positioning and operating energy systems (including small nuclear power plants), communications systems and keeping at least one wheeled vehicle with a pressurized cabin charged and efficient, at least according to the project provided by the Japanese space agency Jaxa which will build it.
Finally, Phase 3 will start in 2032 and will continue in the following years with the construction of habitats with accommodation for extended stays, the development of cargo shuttles to bring cargo to Earth, the use of nuclear energy in addition to solar energy (which is problematic on the Moon due to the sun-shadow alternation) to power the base and the start of the extraction of mineral resources.
The overall project will take decades
Taking advantage of the almost thirty years of experience acquired with the development and management of the International Space Station (ISS), a project which today involves 15 nations and which has evolved towards the commercial transport of crews and refueling services, the lunar base is also conceived as an initiative based on international and commercial partnerships.
He explained Merancy: «The biggest risk for programs of this type is not having continuity. We can accomplish small things quickly, but overall, building a lunar base is a project that will take decades and clear prioritization. Today we think the most critical resource is how to use crews’ time. Not the water or even the sunlight, but rather the hours of activity of the astronauts because getting them up there is an extremely complex undertaking.”
The concern is that the space workforce should focus on geological research and extravehicular activities and avoid using their time for continuous maintenance work. To free them from these tasks, NASA focuses on very reliable technologies and robotics.
In the end, Merancy he concluded: «I believe that this is one of the most important considerations, the initial systems will be put to the test: the habitats will start from small dimensions and then become larger and more comfortable and we will have to grow these capacities making them increasingly efficient over time. We don’t want this process to drag on too long because starting the use of the structure and scientific activities as soon as possible is one of our priorities.”
