Architectural Design of SHARC as a Self-Sufficient, Permanently-Crewed Lunar Settlement

With steadily advancing programs such as Artemis, human permanence on the lunar surface is an ensuing reality. The 2024 ISECG Global Exploration Roadmap estimates that humans will operate and live on the moon's surface for significantly longer durations. This will require the development of habitats that can withstand the lunar environment while protecting human health, safety and well-being. During the Space Station Design Workshop (SSDW) 2024, it is with this goal in mind that the Space Habitat for Advanced Resource Collection (SHARC) project, a lunar base, was developed, aiming to transform a self-sufficient life on the moon from a dream into reality. The initial build-up phase of the SHARC base focuses on autonomously deploying prefabricated tube aluminum modules to serve as preliminary crew habitats, chosen for their durability and flight reliability in the harsh lunar environment. During the first settlement phase, the base will house up to 25 astronauts in use-case independent, in-situ-assembled Multipurpose Habitable Modules (MHMs), reinforced with radiation-protecting regolith layers. The architecture includes surface domes and underground levels to enhance radiation shielding and allow for a safe and sustainable expansion. For this, 3D-printed lunar regolith shells manufactured around aluminum structures are envisioned, creating the basic building blocks for additional habitats, tunnels, and underground facilities. In advanced stages of the mission, metal alloys would be produced directly on the moon through in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), increasing self-sufficiency and boosting crew capacity to 75 astronauts. The SHARC MHMs harbor all necessary facilities constituting a self-sufficient lunar settlement, emphasizing crew safety, efficiency, and comfort. The integral “Micro Housing” concept maximizes crew productivity and physio-psychological health, enabling long-term habitation, commercialization, and deep-space exploration. Leveraging robust construction strategies and a use-case-focused modular architecture, SHARC aims for self-sufficiency, laying the ground for a resilient, scalable, and Earth-independent lunar outpost.