Design features of a planned Lunar Base

Mission code named: Project Second Wind
Base code named: Acoma 2

     The first manned exploratory lunar missions were known as Apollo. These historic lunar flights occurred from 1968 A.D. through 1972 A.D. [1]. The second phase of manned missions to the moon shall be known as Project Second Wind and will include NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (2008 A.D.), Projects Constellation and Orion. Project Second Wind also includes the construction of a permanent lunar base complex.
     The proposed six pointed lunar base complex is referred to as Acoma 2. Acoma 1 is thought to be the oldest known inhabited settlement currently occupied in North America. Acoma translates to either “the place that always was” or “the people of the white rock.” It is located in New Mexico, USA [2]. The Acoma Native American word for the moon is pronounced “Dow-Watch” [3].
     Acoma 2 is to be built primarily of the lunar regolith which will be processed into concrete. Windows are absolutely mandatory so depth perception can provide psychological health for the human brain and eyes. The “WOMB” (Wide Open Moon Base) is to be the scientific component of Acoma 2 and ONLY scientists and the Architect  would be allowed inside the “WOMB.” And the “WOMB” is to be a scientific chamber of life, hence the unorthodox nickname. Because the moon’s gravity is 1/6 that of Earth’s [4], ceiling heights inside the moon base would be about 12 feet. There is to be a series of linked entrance vestibules numbering about three to four at each airlock entrance. The moon base will center around the enclosure of vegetation. The Swiss born architect, Le Corbusier proclaimed, “The plan is the generator [5].” Therefore the plan view will be a six pointed polygon to aid in forming six observation posts (figure 1). Each of the six pointed modular units will be built one at a time. The lunar base is to be approximately 80% beneath the lunar surface because of the harsh solar radiation. Hydroponic ponds (fertilized by human feces) inside the structure would be used to grow non-edible plants. A by-product of the urine inside Acoma 2 is to be oxygen [6]. The entire lunar base is to be a CELSS (Controlled Ecological Life Support System) [7].
     The lunar regolith is rich in Helium 3, designated ³He. This isotope is a potential energy source for Earth [8]. However, a major development problem of the Helium 3 is the very high temperatures required to process the material. These temperatures are close to that of the sun for the fusion process to work [9]. Perhaps the refineries would be located on a large, nearby asteroid or deep within the moon itself. Care will have to be taken to protect the Helium 3 in transit between the Earth and moon from pirates [10].
     Ice was suspected to have been found on the moon by the U.S. Department of Defense satellite, Clementine in 1994 A.D. The existence  of ice at the south pole was confirmed by the Lunar Prospector probe in 1998 A.D--1999 A.D. with evidence of ice at the north pole [11] [12]. (ice on the moon is still in question—author’s note) Because of these alleged findings the lunar outpost is to be built in close proximity of either pole. NASA’s upcoming Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (October 2008 A.D.) will collect further lunar data including possible information regarding ice. The crater Shackleton is the current leading candidate among scientists for the location of the first base [13]. Acoma 2 will probably be located elsewhere.
     Completed construction date of Acoma 2 shall be no later than 2050 A.D.  

                                                        ---Meyer
       

                             Sources

[1]   World Book Encyclopedia p. 568g, 1976 A.D. Vol. 18.
[2]   Native Americans, an encyclopedia of history, cultures and
       people Vol. 1 by Barry Pritzker p.7 1998 A.D.,
       ABC-CLIO     publisher.
[3]   Dialogue between Meyer and two members of the Acoma tribe,  
       at the Acoma reservation in New Mexico USA on March 14th,
       2000 A.D.
[4]   World Book Encyclopedia, p. 783, 2005 A.D., Vol. M.
[5]   Towards a New Architecture by Le Corbusier, Architectural Press
       1927 A.D. (translated from the French by Frederick Etchells).
       First published in the USA in 1960 A.D. Praeger Publishers,
       p. 45,  fourth printing 1970 A.D.
[6]   Based on Russian experiments on the Mir space station circa
       1990’s.
[7]   The Lunar Base Handbook by Peter Eckart et al, p.406,
       1999 A.D. McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.
[8]    Eckart, p.613.
[9]   Conversation on June 3rd, 2006 A.D. between geologist/author
       Paul P. Sipiera and Meyer at the Kennedy Mall during the NASA
       exhibit in Dubuque, Iowa USA (held May 5th, 2006 A.D. thru July     
       9th 2006 A.D.)
[10] Per a citizen of Dubuque, Iowa USA.
[11] World Book Encyclopedia p. 783, 2005, Vol. M.
[12] The Big Splat or How Our Moon Came to Be, by
       Dana Mackenzie, p.138, 2003 A.D. John Wiley &
       Sons publisher.
[13]  Ad Astra, Spring 2007 A.D., p.29.

Lattice Links
  
The Institute
The Society
The Administrator of Project Second Wind
The Builders of Acoma 2

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Last updated May 4, 2008