LUNAR BASE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN AND

APPLICATION

GUO LINLI ，Li ZHIJIE ,FENG ZHENGQIU ,YANG LEI

Inst. Of Manned Space System Engineering.

CAST

20170605

GLEX-Astronomy from the Moon and International Human Moon Missions

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Lunar base generally refers to the various infrastructure we build on the moon for

the long term residence, living and carrying out a variety of technical experiments,

scientific research and resource development. According to the construction phase

of the different, including unmanned lunar base stage and manned moon base

stage.

Mission of lunar base

Scientific research of the Moon;

Utilization of lunar resources;

Scientific experiment platform;

Lunar observatory;

Deep space exploration transfer

station;

Lunar tourism.

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① Full chemical analysis of lunar surface

material composition;

② Physical and mechanical analysis of

lunar rock and soil;

③ Lunar soil structural feature analysis;

④ Lunar surface material science research;

⑤ Lunar dust stimulated characteristics

analysis;

⑥ oxygen generation from lunar soil;

⑦ Biological experiments, special material,

pharmacy etc.

What we

want to do

What we

must do

What we

may do

By building manned lunar base and using the moon has no atmosphere, no

magnetic field, low gravity, radiation environment and the special features of the

moon, besides the moon's own scientific research, we can also establish lunar

observatory, carry out research on materials science, life sciences and

manufacturing. Take the maximum common divisor of “what we want to do”,

“what we may do” and “what we must do”, the following scientific applications

can be conducted:

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Geological map of

Oceanus

Procellarum and

Sinus Iridum

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Test and material development of

lunar rock and soil

（1） Extraction and utilization of lunar soil resources

Research on the physical/

mechanical properties of lunar

rock;

Evaluation of building and

underground cavern’s stability;

Full chemical analysis of lunar

rock and soil;

Determination of physical and

mechanical properties of lunar soil;

Test of 3D printed building

performance;

Determination of lunar soil

material;

Generate oxygen from lunar soil.

Lunar soil thickness distribution

Lunar soil composition and simulated composition

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（2）Extraction and utilization of water

Possible forms of water on the Moon

Crystal water combined with mineral;

Ice dust mixture with lunar soil;

Ice cube or layer in the lunar soil.

Water exploration method on the Moon

Hydrological exploration profile in the south and north pole area, geological

radar and ultrasonic detection, rock (soil) core sampling; ；

Collect suspected water ice rock and soil samples, analyze and test the

sample after returning to earth, then accurately estimate the abundance of

water (ice) on the surface of the moon and its vicinity and the overall

reserves.

Extraction method of water from ice dust mixture and crystal

Ice water

resources

Heating and

distilling

Water vapor

condensation

Water

filtration

Water

acquisition

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Lunar resources sorted by

importance:

1. Lunar soil

2. Water ice

3. Helium-3

4. Trace elements

5. Oxygen, hydrogen, iron and

other metallic element

6. Lunar environmental resources

Exploration and utilization of lunar resources

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Several optional structures of lunar base

Rigid cabin structure Inflatable structure

Rigid+ flexible structure Construction structure

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Integrated manned lunar base scheme

After the completion of China's

space station, we will acquire the

construction technology of rigid

cabin;

On this basis, use 3D printing

technology to build external

protective layer. The top of the

base is biological cabin for green

plants. The sealed structure of

the biological cabin is

transparent, which can save

energy.

An emergency lifesaving

spaceship is placed near the

base for astronauts emergency

escape.

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Location: Sinus Iridum;

Components: the internal main structure contains three rigid

cabins; the external main structure contains protective layer

and emergency lifesaving system, with the ability to expand

into a large lunar base;

Number of astronauts: 3~6 astronauts;

Duration of each lunar mission: ≥ 3 months

Life of base: ≥ 8 years;

Energy: ≥180kw, use nuclear reactor + solar array +

regenerative fuel cell;

Life support method: mainly based on materialized

regenerative environmental control, assisted with small-scale

controlled ecological life insurance system.

Main technical indexes of integrated manned lunar base

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Internal main structure Contains living cabin, experiment cabin

and support cabin. Transported by

cargo lunar lander to the construction

site.

Living cabin and experiment cabin are

assumed to be sealing pressure cabin,

astronauts live and work in it. Support

cabin is also sealing pressure cabin,

which provides energy, consumable

supplies for the scientific station.

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To solve the rugged problem of lunar surface, we designed a flexible connection

channel structure.

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（1） Configuration of lunar base

Safety design

Safety backup between cabins: three cabins are equipped with energy,

environmental control and thermal control system, once a cabin accident, the

remaining cabin can be used as a backup. The support cabin has an

emergency area that can be used as a small living room near one end of the

living cabin.

Number of exits: each cabin has 3

exits, more than 2 safety exits are

guaranteed for each cabin.

Return to Earth with emergency: use

a pressurized lunar rover parked at a

safe exit from the lunar base to take

off/landing field.

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Habitability design

Partition follows two basic principles:

quiet - noise, personal - group.

The work area and the rest area are

independent of each other, so the

living cabin, the experiment cabin

and the support cabin are

independent of each other

For the living cabin, consider the

individual psychological needs,

separate the personal health area

and catering area.

Person

Group

Noise QuietLaboratory Control

center

Device

storage area

Fitness area

Dining area

Wash area

Recreation areaDaily necessities

storage area

Bedroom Private area

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（2）Light, electric and environmental thermal control integrated

design based on nuclear energy

During the day, use solar

array and nuclear power to

produce energy, use power

control system for power

supply adjustment and

control. Excess energy will

electrolyze water generated

from regenerative fuel cell

into hydrogen and oxygen.

During the moonlight, use

nuclear power as the main

energy, regenerative fuel cell

as a backup supply.

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Modular thermal control design

Heat collection module, heat transfer

module, heat dissipation module

Heat pipe buried in deep surface

1m below the surface for heat dissipation

Nuclear power heat utilization

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（3）Biological regeneration life support technology

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Algae

Plant Animal

• Effectively convert human or

animal waste or other non-

biomass into food and oxygen

• Short growth cycle, fast breeding

• High photosynthetic efficiency

• Recyclable CO2 and solid waste

• Nutrient-rich, can be used as

food

• Provide animal protein, ensure

physical health

• Comfort living habits, ensure

mental health

• Recycling non - edible

biomass

Biological regeneration life support composition

• Absorbs CO2, produces O2

(Photosynthesis)

• Provide drinking water

(Transpiration)

• Provide food (Food crops and

vegetables)

With the time and distance increased in the future manned space flight, physical/chemical

regeneration of environmental control and life support system can not solve the fundamental

problem. It is necessary to follow the natural ecosystem of the earth and establish a relatively

perfect biological regeneration environmental control and life support system.

Microorganism

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Lunar Palace 1（BUAA）

Oxygen regeneration

Solid waste treatment

Water cycle

Food：

15 crops

Silkworm, Tenebrio

molitor

External supplies

3 persons 105 days

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Lunar relay satellite system

Circumlunar 1 polar orbit 4 satellites

navigation constellation scheme

Wireless network scheme

wireless wide area network

established by lunar communication

terminal of landing aircraft, lunar

rover and lunar base.

Lunar base relative navigation

scheme

Lunar base relative navigation

scheme

Lunar target autonomous relative

navigation scheme

Lunar terminal navigation scheme

Lunar relay satellite navigation

（4） Communication and navigation system

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Lunar base external

protection

Lunar base external

protection

Build lunar base

protection layer by 3D

printing technology.

“Water wall” radiation

protection

（5） Security protection system design

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（6） Emergency lifesaving design

Emergency channel, emergency area

setting

Lunar base external

emergency lifesaving

Lunar base external

emergency lifesaving

Emergency lifesaving spaceship

Emergency

lifesaving

Emergency

lifesaving

spaceship

design

Emergency

lifesaving

strategy

Flight mode

Flight orbit Design

Emergency lifesaving

spaceship design

Cabin astronauts

emergency lifesaving

Extracurricular

astronauts emergency

lifesaving

Propellant estimation

Pneumatic shape design

System composition

analysis

...

Escape mode

selection(Whether return

to Earth)

Escape route selection

…

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After the CE-5 lunar sample return mission in

this year, we will continue to carry out

exploration and utilization of lunar resources;

Construction of the manned lunar base can not

only inherit China's unmanned lunar exploration

technology, space station construction

technology, also drive the science and

technology of lunar 3D printed manufacturing,

lunar oxygen and in situ resource utilization, and

biological regeneration life support etc.

Considering the construction cycle and cost, the

future lunar base needs to carry out a wide

range of international cooperation and

commercial operation.

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