As the world’s gaze turns towards the moon and humanity’s next frontier, one Austrian company has risen to the challenge. PneumoCell, the mastermind behind the innovative inflatable lunar habitat, “PneumoPlanet,” has dared to dream of a new way of living on the moon. This groundbreaking concept has the potential to provide a sustainable, self-sufficient home for up to 32 astronauts, complete with 16 greenhouses.
A new way of living on the moon
Funded by the European Space Agency and designed for the harsh lunar environment, PneumoPlanet promises to be more than just a habitat. It is a symbol of human ingenuity and a shining example of what’s possible with a little bit of creativity and a lot of hard work. At the heart of this concept is the idea of a self-sustaining habitat that produces and recycles its own oxygen and food, using solar power as its source of energy.
The living quarters of PneumoPlanet would be located underground, providing protection from the harsh lunar environment and cosmic radiation. Meanwhile, the mirrors of PneumoPlanet will be hoisted on a rotating magnetic ring, ensuring that the greenhouses are constantly bathed in natural sunlight. This will allow photosynthesis to take place, producing the vital food and oxygen that will sustain the astronauts.
Thomas Herzig, the architect and lead designer of PneumoPlanet, believes that this habitat is a viable tool for future lunar astronauts. He points out that no other habitat concept offers what PneumoPlanet does in terms of the overall design, specifically in the greenhouse. In his opinion, it would be a shame to put all of the efforts into a lunar space station instead of building something on the moon where resources can be used, and experiments can be conducted.
NASA has plans to establish infrastructure near the permanently shadowed regions of the lunar surface as part of its Artemis Base Camp. However, Herzig has also noted that the lunar space station, Lunar Gateway, will not have the same level of protection from cosmic radiation as the International Space Station. Despite the delays in the Artemis missions, Herzig remains hopeful that NASA may change its mind about Lunar Gateway and a permanent moon base in the future.
In conclusion, PneumoPlanet is a revolutionary concept that has the potential to support the survival and thriving of astronauts in the harsh environment of the moon. With humans set to return to the lunar surface in the coming years, PneumoPlanet could provide a sustainable solution for their habitat and support future lunar missions. It’s time for us to embrace new ideas and new possibilities, to boldly go where no one has gone before.