| Abstract: | Various structural concepts for lunar bases have been proposed and considered during the past three decades, each balancing the multitude of lunar constraints and anticipated base functions with a different distribution of weighting factors. This paper provides a brief review of the study of lunar base structures as well as an overview of current ideas. Lunar environmental characteristics are highlighted, and questions of structural functionality are categorized. In an appendix to the overview report, building systems proposed for lunar applications are categorized according to applications, application requirements, types of structures, material considerations, structures technology drivers, and requirement definitions. Another appendix presents a short list of the most important references related to these issues, as ranked by the task committee. This document contains a brief overview rather than an exhaustive review of concepts proposed for lunar outposts. The original documents, including those cited as references, are not replaced by this paper. However, this review is intended to be reasonably complete. There has been no conscious intention to ignore any work in this area of extensive ongoing activity. |
