NASA Shares Newest Results of Moon to Mars Architecture Concept Review:https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-shares-newest-results-of-moon-to-mars-architecture-concept-review/https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/rev-a-acr23-esdmd-001-m2madd.pdf?emrc=65b03e56936bf
With objectives aiming for long-term surface exploration, additional capabilities for surface habitation allows progressive advancement toward sustained human lunar operations. General habitation functions may be common across surface habitation elements and can include providing remote medical systems; providing IVA workspaces; supporting internal and external utilization; supplying environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) capabilities; enabling EVAs; and supporting logistics transfer. Such functions may be shared between several elements of varying designs and levels of capability. Other unique functions that may be implemented include support and storage of ISRU-produced materials and/or consumables, demonstration of bioregenerative ECLS systems, and demonstration of plant growth sub-systems. Some notional surface habitation concepts are shown in Figure 3-14.
Europe’s mission to the Moon:https://europeanspaceflight.substack.com/p/europes-mission-to-the-moonInteresting article on Europe's various lunar related missions and programs. It includes a description of the potential contributions of ESA to the Artemis program (Argonaut and Moonlight).
ASI [the Italian Space Agency] and prime contractor Thales Alenia Space Italia recently launched the Phase A development of the Multi-Purpse Habitat. The country hopes that it will be the first permanent outpost on the Moon. While the project is being pushed by ASI, a June 2022 bilateral cooperation agreement with NASA means the project could potentially be utilized for the US agency's Artemis programme. To this end, the project has completed a NASA element initiation review, ensuring its place on the table when NASA planners outline the agency's initial missions to the lunar surface. Neither Thales Alenia Space nor ASI has given any real indication about the dimensions, crew capacity, or primary use of the habitat. In a September 2020 agreement, the project is described as the development of "crew habitation capabilities on the surface of the Moon and associated technologies to enable short-duration stays for crew on the Moon."ASI and Thales Alenia Space are currently working towards a mission concept review, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2024. Apart from Argonaut, this is certainly one of the most promising of Europe’s efforts to contribute to the realization of a sustained presence on the Moon.
HDL must be capable of delivering between 12t to 15t of cargo:Quote from: page 18 of HLS-RQMT-007HDL-S-R-0030 Cargo DeliveryThe HDL shall be capable of delivering 12 metric ton (t) (threshold) and 15 t (goal) of cargo to south lunar latitudes between 84° and 90°. The purpose of the HDL is to enable extended surface stays at Artemis Base Camp (ABC). The HDL will be capable of operating in the varying thermal and solar illumination/shadow environments within the required latitudes.
HDL-S-R-0030 Cargo DeliveryThe HDL shall be capable of delivering 12 metric ton (t) (threshold) and 15 t (goal) of cargo to south lunar latitudes between 84° and 90°. The purpose of the HDL is to enable extended surface stays at Artemis Base Camp (ABC). The HDL will be capable of operating in the varying thermal and solar illumination/shadow environments within the required latitudes.
#Update #Space #ScienceIn one step closer to building structures on #lunar surface, @iiscbangalore scientists have a breakthrough that allows them to strengthen space bricks they built using lunar soil simulants (LSS). 1/nLink To Full Video: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/toi-original/lunar-dreams-breakthrough-in-space-brick-tech/videoshow/110439920.cmsIn 2020, I’d first reported about “space bricks” at Aloke’s lab & further developments thereafter, in collaboration with @isro. Now, the key innovation is use of a liquid-state sintering process that exploits melting of glass-rich basalt minerals present in LSS. 3/nPointing out that constructing habitable load-bearing structures on lunar and Martian surfaces presents unique challenges, such as the ability to sustain extreme thermal fluctuations and frequent dust storms, Aloke said… 4/n…“A promising paradigm for effecting construction is by in-situ resource utilisation (ISRU), combined with sintering, wherein locally available regolith is consolidated at high temperatures to make load-bearing structures.” 5/nThey used furnace-based sintering as a viable pathway to consolidate extraterrestrial regolith. This, distinguished by potential to reduce dependency on Earth resources, holds promise for significantly lowering costs & logistical challenges compared to other building methods. 6/nNitin Gupta, lead author of the paper published in Science Direct, explained that by heating LSS to 1,200°C — above the basalt melting point — the molten basalt acts as a binder, enhancing particle binding and resulting in significantly stronger consolidated ‘space bricks’. 7/nKoushik said: “The compressive strength of the sintered bricks reached up to 58 MPa, a nearly four-fold increase compared to bricks produced via solid-state sintering at lower temperatures… 8/n…This strength enhancement makes the liquid-sintered bricks viable for load-bearing habitats and structures on the lunar surface.” 9/nResearchers used a combination of experimental techniques like scanning electron microscopy & differential scanning calorimetry, along with a novel numerical lattice model, to investigate the underlying mechanisms. 10/nThe model revealed an exponential relation between compressive strength and porosity of the bricks. 11/nThis mastery over the process-structure-property relationships paves the way for optimising the bricks for different structural requirements by trading off peak strength and energy requirements for higher sintering temperatures. 12/n“Our findings demonstrate feasibility of harvesting lunar resources to produce robust construction materials, reducing massive costs of transporting all materials from Earth. This is a significant step towards realising sustainable extraterrestrial settlements,” Koushik said. n/n
The positive conclusion of the MDR Review conducted by ASI [the Italian Space Agency] under the supervision of NASA experts, present as observers, is the fundamental step to support the final exam scheduled for next September in Washington and which will be carried out by NASA managers for the Artemis program and the “Moon to Mars Strategy”. This will be the step that will hopefully start the process of including the Italian habitation module in the final architecture of the future lunar program. A goal which, when achieved, will confirm Italian skills and the full maturity of the project. [...]With the Artemis program, NASA is leading human exploration of the Moon. Italy was among the first eight signatories of the Artemis Accords in 2020, proposing itself for the construction of the first element intended to form the nucleus of a permanent settlement on the lunar surface. MPH will therefore be the first module of the Artemis program that will arrive on the Moon and allow the safe stay of astronauts.
The MPH lunar surface habitat will be three metres wide and six metres long with a mass of around 15 tonnes. The habitat will feature wheels, allowing it to be positioned to support crewed missions at different locations on the lunar surface.The habitat will be capable of supporting two astronauts for one mission per year, lasting between 7 and 30 days. It will also be capable of supporting larger crews for short periods in case of an emergency. When the habitat is not supporting a crew, it will autonomously conduct scientific experiments.
Never the same day twice at our RoverscapeWe are testing a system that includes robots, structural building blocks, and smart algorithms to build large-scale structures for future deep space exploration.In this video, autonomous robots worked as a team to transport material in a mock rail system and simulate a build of a tower at our Roverscape.Video credit: NASA
Interestingly, it seems that NASA is about to accept, in FY26, contributions to Artemis by ESA (Argonaut) and the Italian Space Agency (the Multi-Purpose Habitat):Quote from: EXP-29 of the NASA FY26 Budget As a part of ESDMD's initiation review process for new elements, the newly established Multi-Purpose Habitat (MPH) and Argonaut elements have transitioned from pre-formulation under SAO [Strategy and Architecture Office] to the HLS program for implementation as part of the overall Artemis Architecture beginning in FY 2026. MPH will be developed by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and Argonaut will be developed by ESA.Quote from: EXP-42 of the NASA FY26 BudgetEXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2026International partnership systems integration for Multi-Purpose Habitat (MPH) and Argonaut Lunar Descent Element have been successfully transitioned from Future Systems to the Moon to Mars Program Office. Ramp up of surface logistics Design, Development, Test, and Evaluation (DDT&E) was delayed by 2 years, however, the transition to commercial lunar transportation systems is expected to provide savings in the outyears that could be used to accelerate development.https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fy-2026-budget-technical-supplement-002.pdf
As a part of ESDMD's initiation review process for new elements, the newly established Multi-Purpose Habitat (MPH) and Argonaut elements have transitioned from pre-formulation under SAO [Strategy and Architecture Office] to the HLS program for implementation as part of the overall Artemis Architecture beginning in FY 2026. MPH will be developed by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and Argonaut will be developed by ESA.
EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2026International partnership systems integration for Multi-Purpose Habitat (MPH) and Argonaut Lunar Descent Element have been successfully transitioned from Future Systems to the Moon to Mars Program Office. Ramp up of surface logistics Design, Development, Test, and Evaluation (DDT&E) was delayed by 2 years, however, the transition to commercial lunar transportation systems is expected to provide savings in the outyears that could be used to accelerate development.
The current Toyota Mooncruiser pressurized rover concept needs a ride to the Lunar surface. Presuming Toyota survives the global transition to electric vehicles.
