NASA Post-Apollo Lunar Exploration Plans: Moonlab Study - Semi-Permanent Lunar Surface Observatory Concept, Personnel, Life Support, Lunar Farm, Moon Base Layout and Design

This fascinating 1968 report describes the results of a study of a semi-permanent lunar surface observatory, called Moonlab. Many unusual aspects of a moonbase are explored, including a futuristic take on astronauts for the mission: "Another more remote possibility is that the people pool will contain "modified people"; that is, at a later extremely mature stage of MOONLAB people who have had extensive conditioning, either psychological, physiological, or both, will be available for particular tasks not easily accomplished by normals."

PART I - DESIGN CRITERIA AND PROGRAM EVOLUTION * CHAPTER 1 - DESIGN SUMMARY * MOONLAB Site * Evolution * Scientific Instruments * Personnel * Life Support and the Lunar Farm * Shelter * Power and Communications * Mobility * Lunar Exploitation * Weight and Cost * CHAPTER 2 - OBJECTIVES AND BENEFITS. * advantages and Disadvantages * CHAPTER 3 - FACTORS INFLUENCING BASE DESIGN * Site Selection * Study Assumptions and Guidelines * Physical Conditions of the Lunar Surface * Site Certification * MOONLAB Hard Design Criteria * CHAPTER 4 - MOONLAB EVOLUTION 1970-1985 * MOONLAB Evolution Programs * MOONLAB Evolution Costs * Economic Considerations * Cost Factors Significantly Affecting the Design of MOONLAB * PART II - MOONLAB JANUARY 1, 1985 * CHAPTER 5 - SCIENTIFIC MISSION ACTIVITIES * Physical Sciences * Lunar Atmosphere * Selenodesy (Geodesy) * Selenology * Selenochemistry * Selenophysics * Particles and Fields * Remote Observation of the Earth * Astronomy * Technology * Biological and Biomedical Research * Behavioral Science Research * Agricultural Science Research * Personnel * CHAPTER 6 - PERSONNEL * General * Personnel Selection * Group Formation Criteria * Group Members * Group Characteristics * Training * MOONLAB Organization * Daily Schedule * CHAPTER 7 - LUNAR BASE LAYOUT AND DESIGN * Spatial Requirements * Evolutionary Spatial Requirements * Steady State Requirements * Internal Spatial Requirements ("I") * Transitional Spatial Requirements ("T") * External Spatial Requirements ("E") * Spatial Allotments * Module Layout * Consideration of Human Factors * General Design Considerations * Module Floor Plans * General Physical Considerations * CHAPTER 8 - LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND PROTECTION. * Design Bases * Atmosphere * Food * Water * Waste Management System * Thermal Control * Contaminants Removal * Radiation * Fire Protection * Costs * CHAPTER 9 - MOONLAB AGRICULTURE * Purpose * General Concepts of Farm Design * Life support Details * Crop Details * Food Processing * Farm Maintenance * Evolution of Farm * Preliminary Development Work Required * Earth Tests Required * Moon Tests Required Before 1985 * Farm Construction * Soil Development and Crop Seeding * Farm Developments * Farm Operation * Crop Handling * Diet * CHAPTER 10 - MOONLAB STRUCTURES * General * Design Constraints * Manned Shelter * Consideration of the Toroid and Cylinder Forms * Meteoroid Effects * Preliminary Selection of Shelter Wall * Radiation * Foundations * Farm Structure * Farm Structure Materials * CHAPTER 11 - POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS * Power * Communications * Ground Station Network * Main Lunar Base * Communications with Extra-Base Activity * Instrument Communications * CHAPTER 12 - MOBILITY * Off-Loading and Deployment * Surface Movement of Landed Vehicles * Off-Loading * Emplacement * Unloading Pay loads * Material-Handling Vehicle * Site Preparation * Off-Site Activities * Scientific Objectives * Technological Objectives * Water Sources * Other Minerals * CHAPTER 13 - EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND BACKUP * General * Emergency Procedures * Location of Personnel and Physical Diagnosis * Sudden Decompression * Fire and Explosion Protection * Radiation Protection * Search and Rescue * PART III - MOONLAB POST-1985 OPERATIONS * CHAPTER 14 - POST-1985 LOGISTICS AND RESUPPLY * Personnel * Resupply * Costs of Post-1985 Operations * CHAPTER 15 - RESOURCE EXPLOITATION * Solar Energy