Extraterrestrial Outpost (ExO): Design and Implementation of a Long-Term Sustainable Lunar Habitat

Abstract

The Extraterrestrial Outpost (ExO) project presents a strategy to transition from a small, preliminary lunar outpost to a sustainable 30-person habitat. The outpost was designed around three main objectives that supported lunar geology, future space technology development, and commercial ventures on the Moon. A logistics and build-up plan are presented that detail when each of the habitat modules and support equipment will arrive at the Moon as well as the number of launches required to get the outpost equipment there. In Situ Resource Utilization was investigated in order to use the available lunar resources to provide consumable water for the habitat and fuel for the ascent vehicle. In support of the ExO project, the ExO team built an interactive lunar habitat exhibit and a number of interactive activities for young children. The outreach event was held in conjunction with a solar eclipse watch party at the Folsom Field football stadium at the University of Colorado Boulder which broke a Guinness world record for highest attended eclipse viewing event. I. Background The purpose of the Extraterrestrial Outpost (ExO) project is to address and resolve some of the pressing issues that limit near-term lunar colony development. Permanent lunar colonies require significant funding, advanced technology, and a clear goal and timeline for development. Unfortunately, politics have a direct impact on a country's space exploration goals and budget. Due to the programmatic instability of government agencies, a nonprofit organization called Space Colony Developers (SCDev) will be formed to manage the ExO Project. SCDev will work with NASA, international space agencies, and commercial companies to develop the first permanent sustainable lunar outpost. ExO will serve as the next international platform for space science research and a test bed for space colonization. The purpose of SCDev is to generate an economic incentive for commercial companies to invest in and develop new markets on the Moon. Creating an economically sustainable market will allow government space agencies to reduce their funding contributions and spend more on future expansion into space. Several research papers have presented designs for small, preliminary bases and fully-developed, colonized outposts, 1,2,3,4 but insufficient research has been done examining the transition between the two. The ExO Project outlines a detailed logistics plan that describes the transition from a 4-person to a 30-person habitat. II. Mission Overview A. Objectives The ExO Project is driven by three main objectives: 1) To study the geology of the Moon 2) To develop a test bed to study future long-term habitation of space 3) To encourage commercialization of lunar activities. To achieve the stated goals, the outpost design includes facilities to study lunar geology, perform technology demonstrations, and foster commercial activity. Establishing clear objectives allowed for a focused design effort that narrowed several design options down to a realistically feasible outpost desig...