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Technical description of a moon base settlement unit

The shell structure is the same as shown and described for the spotel  The main shape and sizes are also the same, built up of the same modules, but adapted to moon gravity, so that the suite sections are turned 90 degrees. In addition there are the four smaller arm sections and the understructure for rocket engine, fuel tanks and a landing gear. The whole unit is supposed to land on its own. In largest cross section, a settlement unit (name = snowflake) looks like this:

Mind that the central part is circular symmetric. No "windows" are shown here, as this depends on what kind of 'snowflake' is concerned and what is desired and acceptable in each case.

Under moon surface and landing conditions one wouldn't want to assemble a snowflake from its sections. The far lower moon gravity allows the whole 'snowflake' (assembled in and launched from Earth-orbit) to land on its own. The then empty fuel tanks will be used for a basic eco-system, containing algae-cultures to produce oxygen, remove carbon dioxide from the air and to recycle waste water for reuse.

The idea is that each 'snowflake' is self-sufficient during a minimum required time with this basic life support system, which will be installed later with equipment and other supplies brought from Earth. However, this is thought for a freestanding hotel. Combined in a settlement-compound with other 'snowflakes', among which one is for eco and energy systems, gardens, etc only, the other 'snowflakes' can use more space for accommodation and other purposes. Nevertheless, a certain self-sufficiency for each 'snowflake' should be maintained for emergency situations - on the moon we must always prepare for the worst case scenarios, as there is nowhere to go...

Energy supply from photo-voltaic cells may work to power small units of the kind NASA drops on the moon, but for our purposes we need much more energy and then such solar panels simply become too large, definitely nothing that would fit on the 'roof' of a 'snowflake'. Moreover, if the location is not at the poles of the moon (actually on a mountain there), it will be night half of the time (two earth weeks!).

What we need must come from much more powerful fuel cells that could be driven with oxygen and hydrogen, but even better with bio-gas, such as methane, that can be produced from the toilet wastes. The agro compartment could produce additional bio-gas with birds and pigs that also produce eggs and meat. Other applications, such as growing vegetables, mushrooms, fruits, etc, could be thought of also. In freestanding hotels, the upper floor of the central section could be used for this, possibly as a kind of combined botanic garden with a fountain for relaxation, some gold-fishes, etc. A top 'window' in the cupola would let sunlight in.

The rocket is designed for use in space (vacuum) only and therefore has a ring shaped combustion chamber-nozzle around the curved dome, which acts as an extension of the nozzle, giving a higher fuel efficiency (specific impulse). There are some side-nozzles as well, to maneuver during landing. The interior of the dome, containing the torus shaped fuel tanks and fuel pumps, is kept on vacuum, being the absolute best thermal insulation, but most of all, the ultimate fire inhibitor.

Fire on board is the worst thing that could happen and the risk for it is far greater than that of a destructive meteorite impact. To minimize damage caused by either, the interior should have as many pressure-tight partitions as possible, allowing to shut-off many smaller sections for decompression. Think of this when you design the interior, not in the least bath rooms. Fire outbreak in such an evacuated section would immediately extinguish and hazardous smoke is ventilated out. Compressed air from bottles will be used to restore pressure afterwards.

The legs of the landing gear have shock absorbers for touch-down on landing and contain a mechanism to adjust the length in order to level the unit on uneven ground and to adjust the total height to match that of another unit, to which it may be coupled into a compound - click on the landing gear above for an enlargement.  A system must be designed to move 'snowflakes' towards each other, as they for safety reasons will land rather far apart (no atmosphere to maneuver like an air plane and not enough rocket fuel available)

One such a system could be based on buggies that move under the dome to lift the whole 'snowflake' from the ground and rolling it to the destination location. As this is a one-time event, it would be complicated and a waste of resources to build such a system in the 'snowflake' itself, while the buggies can be used for many other transportation needs and even be completed with attachable equipment to let them work as bulldozers, cranes, whatever If you have design ideas for this, or for any of the above, please submit them to your design area