Scientists from the United States have presented a project for an unusual habitat that can be built independently on the surface of the moon.
Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have presented a design for a home for future colonists on the moon. Scientists believe that such a habitat will become the basis for a future colony on Earth’s satellite.
The main feature of this house is that it does not require construction, and it also has a modular design, which allows it to be adapted for different purposes, reports Interesting technology.
The innovative project MOMO, a self-assembling lunar habitat, is a revolutionary habitat that in the near future will be used not only by astronauts on the moon, but also by settlers living in a lunar colony created later.
Scientists believe their innovative home will lay the foundation for the long-term settlement of the moon.
MOMO’s habitat design is based on two main goals: maximizing the efficiency of placing the assembled housing in the spacecraft’s cargo bay; ensure modularity of the design.
This will optimize transportation logistics and increase the habitat’s ability to adapt not only to conditions on the moon, but also to the goals of a given mission.
The MOMO habitat is made using an aluminum frame combined with a high-density polyethylene membrane. This combination provides strong protection against the harsh conditions on the moon, especially radiation, and ensures it remains lightweight.
One of the hallmarks of MOMO is its modular design, which allows each module to be customized to perform specific functions. The modules can serve as airlocks, windows, photovoltaic panels, desks or training rooms. This ensures that the house can be used for a variety of purposes, from simple living to scientific research.
MOMO’s design includes replaceable modules, meaning astronauts can replace the defective module if damaged.
Scientists want to send MOMO to the moon as part of the Artemis 3 mission in 2026, when the first human landing on Earth’s satellite will take place in half a century. In the future, these habitats should play an important role in establishing a long-term human presence on the moon.
Due to the fact that it would be difficult for astronauts to assemble this home after landing on the surface of the moon, scientists decided to assemble this structure themselves. The habitat will be delivered folded to the moon, and once landed and deployed on the surface, it will be able to expand on its own with minimal human intervention.
According to scientists, MOMO’s innovative dodecahedron shape makes it easier to fold and place on the moon. The habitat will have everything needed to support life on the moon. There will be a bathroom, a bed and a place to rest.
