Analysis on an Inflatable, Multi-Shelled Membrane Structure for Lunar Additive Manufacturing

With NASA's Artemis campaign goals of establishing a human presence on the moon, the need for supporting infrastructure grows. Amentum Space Exploration Group, alongside many industry and educational partners, has developed a Moon-to-Mars Planetary Autonomous Construction Technology Toolbox that highlights various lunar construction technologies and material candidates. A lunar regolith-based concrete is one of the more versatile material candidates for creating lunar habitats, landing pads, and other critical lunar infrastructure as it can be manufactured using in-situ resources; however, a pressurized environment is required to achieve proper curing. Previous designs for a pressurized additive manufacturing structure have been criticized due to massive obstacles such as material transport costs, workspace limitations, and extreme structural stresses. The University of Tennessee Space Institute senior design team proposes an inflatable, multi-shelled membrane structure for a mobile or permanent additive manufacturing facility with the capability to fabricate critical lunar infrastructure elements. The senior design team details the structural analysis, thermal analysis, environmental study, material selection, potential manufacturing and testing methods, and further steps into the creation, development, and applications of such a structure. This proposed structure meets the need for supporting lunar infrastructure to assist in the Artemis campaign and Amentum Space Exploration Group's goals while also addressing the shortcomings of previously proposed designs.