Lunar Base Aspects for Biotechnology Industry

by Judith Fielder,
Nickolaus Leggett,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Engineering, Construction, and Operations in Space IV

Abstract:

A lunar base can provide unique services to biotechnology research, development, and production. A lunar location as well as the vacuum environment can protect experiments from contamination and protect the Earth from possible accidental consequences of biotechnology developments. Radiation available on the Moon can be utilized for mutagenic breeding. Additional breeding opportunities are provided by the low gravity environment and simultaneous control of atmospheric content and pressure. A lunar location would encourage the industry to develop advanced products. Experimentation on materials too hazardous to allow on Earth can be carried out in the isolation of specially equipped modules. Designing and building a lunar biotechnology facility to work with these technologies safety will be a major challenge to engineering. This paper presents requirements for such a facility and possible design approaches for meeting these requirements. They reflect a customer's view of a lunar biotechnology facility. The actual design and implementation of this facility is a task for the civil engineering community.

Subject Headings: Moon | Space colonies | Hazardous substances | Building design | Aerospace engineering | Space life support systems | Industries

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