Skip to main content

Safeguarding the Future of Lunar Living: A Journey in Simulation-Based Space Habitat Recovery

Image of Luca Vaccino standing at a conference Luca Vaccino, Ph.D. student, College of Engineering

The excitement surrounding the Artemis 1 mission is not just about taking a giant leap for humankind; it is about where we will land and how we will manage the available resources once we get there. As we gear up for more extended stays in space, both in duration and distance, we face a fundamental question: how will we live on the Moon?

The problem is the Moon is not exactly the friendly neighborhood next door. It is a world of extremes: imagine stepping out from a hot 130 degrees Celsius into a freezing negative 130 room. That is a regular day on the lunar surface. But it is not just the temperature that is a concern. The Moon shakes with 'moonquakes' that go unbuffered by the absence of oceans, and it is constantly affected by micrometeorites that can damage the surface of the habitat. And let us not forget the dust – a fine powder that sticks to everything and poses a real threat to equipment and astronauts.

So, what does this mean for human habitats on the Moon? It means we cannot just build a structure and stop for the day. With the excessive costs and vast distances involved in space travel, frequent repair trips from Earth are not a viable solution. Instead, we need to think differently. We cannot make our space habitats indestructible, but we can make them resilient and repairable.

I am conducting space habitat research at the Resilient Extraterrestrial Habitat institute (RETHi), a NASA-funded initiative headquartered at Purdue University, and partnered with the University of Texas San Antonio, Harvard University, and the University of Connecticut. Here, we are studying solutions to the space environment's challenges.

My research within the team is figuring out how to use the limited resources efficiently. For example, suppose a micrometeorite punches a hole in a habitat's wall or shorts out the power system. In that case, we cannot afford to guess which fix is more important. Air pressure and temperature will drop, and our goal is to make up for the lost air, but if the air we add is too cold, it won't be safe for the crew. Meanwhile, if we go for too large heaters, both the mission's cost and energy usage will become excessively high. That is where my work comes in – I am developing simulation tools to help us make those critical decisions that could mean the difference between mission success and failure.

The tool I use, Modular Coupled Virtual Testbed (MCVT), allows us to plan and prioritize repairs using limited resources. This involves designing virtual models of habitats and testing them against different challenges, from a punctured wall to a total power failure. We then watch and learn: How does the habitat respond? What repairs keep the habitat's pressure and temperature within a safe range? And crucially, what keeps our astronauts safe?

Why does all this matter? Because it is about more than survival; it is about the sustainability of human presence beyond Earth. Each solution adds to a growing body of knowledge that paves the way for future missions – even to Mars or beyond.

So, while my research involves algorithms and theoretical scenarios, its goals are convenient. It is about ensuring that we are ready to effectively establish our base when humanity takes its next giant leap.

This project, while reminiscent of science fiction, is actively underway. Its significance lies in that space represents a new domain for human exploration. Addressing the challenges of living on the Moon paves the way for a future where Earth is not our only habitat. In conclusion, our objective is straightforward: to develop lunar habitats that are both safe and sustainable. By simulating, planning, and investigating new technologies for space exploration, we ensure that the Moon will be prepared for habitation when we are ready to establish a presence there.

About the Author: 

Luca Vaccino is a PhD student at Purdue School of Mechanical Engineering, focusing on resilient space habitats. While advised by Dr. Shirley Dyke, Luca has conducted research and presented findings in resilience design, system engineering, and mission safety. Luca developed his love for research while pursuing his master's degree in mechatronic engineering at Turin Polytechnic, Italy. He is working on resource and mission optimization during the transition between crewed and uncrewed state of space missions. After completing his PhD studies, he aims to work on mission control or systems engineering.

Engineering

April 08, 2024

More InnovetED Articles