S.E.L.E.N.E. – A Lunar Base Design Proposal by 2050

In the context of NASA’s Artemis program, the establishment of a permanent human presence on the Moon is increasingly seen as an inevitable step toward humanity’s expansion beyond Earth. However, the lunar environment presents formidable challenges, including high radiation levels and the logistical and financial burdens of transporting resources from Earth. A self-sufficient lunar base is therefore critical—not only to enable long-term lunar exploration but also to serve as a foundation for future missions to Mars and beyond. As part of the Space Station Design Workshop (SSDW) 2024, this paper presents the conceptual design developed by Team Weiss: S.E.L.E.N.E. (Sustainable Ecosystem with a Large-scale Enterprise for Next-generation Exploration). The mission aims to establish a fully operational, permanently crewed lunar base by 2070, supporting a broader lunar infrastructure and economy. The proposed base comprises both aboveground and underground settlements, a large-scale In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) facility for processing lunar regolith, and multiple landing and launch pads. This paper adopts a holistic approach to lunar development, with a particular focus on the design of aboveground deployable inflatable modules. These modules aim to balance engineering subsystems while maintaining a human-centered approach to interior layouts. The housing and research modules will be detailed, including design decisions related to interior spatial organization, structural and energy performance, radiation shielding, and modularity. The overarching goal is to create safe, functional environments that meet both operational requirements and the psycho-physical needs of the crew. Different hypotheses for research module configurations will also be presented, along with the projected role and potential evolution of ISRU capabilities in supporting long-term base operations.