“The moon is the first milestone on the way to the stars.”
– Arthur C. Clarke
Please note: This is a Daily Kos series on a technical article I recently completed. To see a list of the other entries in this series, please click the link below. Thanks!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LSS PART I | LSS PART II
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MOON BASE ONE
Together with the eight solar power plants, Moon Base One is finished (Image 1) (Larger image).
To repeat: The base is built modularly (Animation 1) (Larger animation):
- core
- Observation platforms
- Berths for the crew
- Hotel Berthing
Solar power plants will be added as needed.
The number of space flights required to build the base is relatively high, but still less than the number needed to build the Lunar LOX facility.
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Moon base mass
| UNIT | UNIT MEASUREMENTS | FLIGHTS | |
| Receptors/Rail | 42,000 | kg | 2.00 |
| core | 105,000 | kg | 5.00 |
| observation | 147,000 | kg | 7.00 |
| Berths for the crew | 94,500 | kg | 4.50 |
| Hotel Berthing | 189,000 | kg | 9.00 |
| Solar energy | 252,000 | kg | 12.00 |
| Total mass | 756,000 | kg | 39,50 |
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LSS OUTPOST
Astronauts will use the outpost for EVAs and close-up visual inspections. It will support the lunar base in conducting all maintenance and repair work.
The outpost is a copy of the Earth orbiting station outpost, with the difference that this crew module sits on a connector, which in turn sits on a garage that is mounted by a crane on a surface vehicle (SV) (Figure 2) (larger image).
The connector is used as an emergency lock. The garage is filled with tools, equipment and spare parts.
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LSS EXPEDITIONS
Astronauts will use the expedition vehicle for scientific missions that take place far from the lunar base. It will support autonomous experiments and sensors while also carrying out all maintenance and repair work.
The Lunar Expedition Vehicle is a copy of the Earth Orbit Station Expedition Vehicle, with the difference that this crew module sits on a garage that is mounted by a crane on a Lunar Rover (LV) or a Surface Vehicle (SV) (Figure 3) (larger image).
The crew will support modules related to science and industry, including:
Scientific
- biology
- Biomedicine
- astronomy
- oceanography
- Space physics
- Earth resources
- etc.
industry
- 3D printing with metal alloy from Lunar LOX
- H2O extraction and storage
- etc.
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Moon Base Crew
We will continue to use the same uniform (Image 4) (larger image) and command structure as on Earth Orbit Station (EOS). The crew will wear the usual T-shirt and shorts while stationed.
The crew’s tasks are the same as those of the EOS. The only difference is that the lunar base is only half the size of the EOS (Image 5) (Larger image).
The commander in the grey shirt also serves as department head and senior officer (XO) of the LSS.
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LSS COMMAND AND CONTROL
Below is a partial list of Moon Base One’s departments and areas of responsibility.
- Bridge
- Mechanical engineering
- Remote control for spacecraft
- Moon traffic control
- Infirmary
- Invest
- hygiene
- Overhaul of the crew module
- Spacesuit overhaul
- Deliveries
- Technically
- Eat
- medicine
- etc.
- Science
- biology
- Biomedicine
- astronomy
- oceanography
- Space physics
- Lunar resources
- etc.
- industry
- 3D printing with metal alloy from Lunar LOX
- H2O extraction and storage at Shackleton Crater
- etc.
- Overhaul and refueling of lunar vehicles
- etc.
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LSS LIFETIME
The lifetime of the LSS corresponds to the lifetime of the individual modules. We expect the modules to have a lifetime of approximately 40 years before they need to be replaced.
The base will only be abandoned when we move our operations to Shackleton Crater in the (not too) distant future.
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LSS DISPOSAL
The LSS is to be converted into a museum after it is abandoned for the base at Shackleton Crater.
