LUNAR RESERVOIR

Finalist of Villa on the Moon

+ Finalist

Villa on the Moon

[13087]

LUNAR RESERVOIR: Preserving the non renewable resource of the future.

Team

Name: Gastón Ibarburu

Instagram: @gastonibarburu

Nationality: Uruguayan

Name: Lucía Nicotera

Instagram: @luunicotera

Nationality: Uruguayan

Lunar Reservoir proposes an inflatable biosphere that turns a crater into an Earth-like habitable space, by assembling a suspended ocean of moon harvested water that counters the air pressure inside and is held by it at the same time. 

While letting light through, this ocean protects the habitat from radiation and extreme temperature fluctuations. Recreating the behaviour of water below a freezing lake, a counter convective current is created in the layers of water between 0°C and 4°C, and the excess of energy is stored as latent heat in the phase change from ice to water, which is later released during the cold two week long lunar nights. 

This floating ocean is at the same time a reservoir of water, which is soon to become the scarce non-renewable resource of the imminent space colonisation era. Imagining a habitat under an ocean in the radically different context of the moon questions the natural arrangement of things on Earth, while it also raises awareness about how we are going to manage this simple yet essential substance once the new Solar System scale space race kicks off.

Jury Comments

– The “Lunar Reservoir” project is impressive for its innovative use of water to create a habitable space on the moon. The idea of using a suspended ocean to protect the habitat from radiation and temperature extremes is both practical and creative. This design effectively addresses the need for a sustainable water supply, which is crucial for future lunar colonization. | Cas Esbach