A few months ago, Science Times they reported that SAGA space architects Sebastian Aristotelis and Karl-Johan Sørensen designed an origami-inspired composite shelter for researchers outside NASA’s Artemis lunar mission. This origami-inspired folding shelter is called Lunark Campus, which can be extended and folded for easy transport.
The exterior of Lunark is made of a solid aluminum frame covered with solar cells. Inside, there is a toilet and living area and desks and shelves designed for two people.
Recently, the two Danish space architects have completed a two-month stay in Lunark in a remote part of Greenland to mimic the poor state of the Moon. The temperature in that part of Greenland is about -28 ° F (-16 ° C), and space architects do not have access to smartphones or the Internet. The 1,700kg origami-inspired folding shelter, Lunark, can withstand temperatures as low as -49 ° F and wind speeds of 55 miles per hour, MailOnline said.
(Photo: Instagram)
Lunark campus in Greenland with SAGA space architects Sebastian Aristotelis and Karl-Johan Sørensen. Screenshot from Instagram / saga_space_architects
Lunark Campus Tour
The space architects carried satellite phones and rifles with them in case they encountered wild animals. But their main purpose is to establish whether these humans without special military training or astronauts, such as themselves, will be able to survive in Lunark in anticipation of future space tourism.
According to Aristotelis, it is possible to make a simple origami structure in the Arctic region. The two space architects open the Lunark during the day, without the use of large machines, in an extreme environment.
He said the Lunark Habitat itself had been doing very well because they were able to keep a very comfortable climate indoors even at the end of the trip, which is much colder and windier than expected.
“We are civilians, and if we are looking to a future with more civilization in space, that is one of the most important things for us as architects to discover,” Aristotle said.
The design company, SAGA, aims to make some final designs based on the results of Lunark Habitat’s mission to make the best use for the lunar surface. They plan to make a lot of changes to manufacturing.
Arctic Greenland is a strange and hopeless place and one of the most Moon-like landscapes on Earth. Both architects said they did not have a hard time pretending to be on the Moon because of the bad situation. But Aristotle said it was challenging to put a ship up with the equipment and the interior.
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Living within the Lunark Arctic campus
Lunark Habitat is designed to land on site, fully equipped with furniture, food and other amenities. The two space architects spent a day expanding the Lunark and then spent one month setting up camp before spending 60 days inside the Lunark, between October 2 and November 30.
To prevent getting sick together, they both changed their daily sleep patterns. Aristotle wakes up before Karl and sleeps earlier, while Karl wakes up later and sleeps late as well. Overall, they only have an hour or two of personal and private time.
In addition, the space architects share the same meals every day, which are made up of coffee, cold protein shakes, and hot soups. Their food is made from powdered ingredients mixed with melted ice and protein bars.
As for the toilet, it is designed as in the ISS, where the poop and pee are separated. There is no running water as it is a dry toilet. There is also a fan that would pull out the smells.
The space architects do the business inside the pod because it is impossible to do outside of Lunark, either on Greenland or on the Moon. Lunark recycles much of the waste, and it also has a waste – free ecosystem that ensures it leaves no trace of human activity.
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Check out more Lunar Mission news and information on Science Times.