Sturdy Foundations for the Moon's Future

The moon has long been considered a potential haven for human explorers, but making this vision a reality requires significant infrastructure development. The Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium recently held a workshop to address the complex challenges of constructing launch and landing facilities, addressing moonquakes, and developing sustainable infrastructure. Some of the key takeaways from the workshop include the need for sturdy structures to withstand rocket blasts and the importance of reusing infrastructure and assets. The development of robotic construction and excavation tools that operate in harsh lunar conditions has also been seeded by NASA through small business research grants. However, there are still many obstacles to overcome. For instance, figuring out how to fabricate launch and landing facilities on the moon has already led to considerable research and testing. Moreover, the projected uncrewed test run of SpaceX's Starship human landing system presents an opportunity for NASA to deploy payloads for test purposes on the lunar surface.But what if the assumption that sturdy structures are essential for a sustainable human presence on the moon is wrong? What if the moon's unique environment requires entirely new approaches to infrastructure development? One of the most pressing concerns is the potential impact of moonquakes on lunar infrastructure. As Nerma Caluk, a designer for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, pointed out, seismic events already detected on the moon suggest that moonquakes could damage landing pads, habitats, and other structures. To overcome these challenges, the Lunar Infrastructure Engineering, Design, Analysis, and Construction (LIEDAC) guidelines are being drafted. These guidelines will provide essential direction for establishing human habitats, solar power generation and distribution facilities, launch and landing pads, mining facilities, and communication facilities on the moon. But what about the broader context? Why is the moon important, and what are the implications of establishing a human presence there? What are the potential risks and benefits of this endeavor?