Design & Nature on the Moon

In this chapter are described the research and project activities dedicated to exploring an innovative theme concerning the production, processing, consumption, and storage of microalgae, considered the food of the future, to allow life on other planets in our solar system, starting with the Moon. Design today plays a key strategic role in space to increase the well-being of extra-terrestrial habitats and propose new virtuous sustainable Space Design scenarios to strengthen the relationship between humans and nature in confined environments, and therefore devoid of natural sensory stimuli, and especially with reduced gravity. At this time, all the efforts of the space agencies are focused on the development of lunar base projects that will be the first outpost on our satellite. The most recent proposals are oriented to the use of resources in situ, such as regolith, adapting to new environmental characteristics. A fundamental topic will be the complete self-sufficiency of the base that will have to function as a “living organism” in a position to generate and completely recycle the resources. On the lunar surface the use of microalgae becomes very interesting, especially if declined in new applications that go beyond the functional aspects, and that instead extend to the psycho-physiological and emotional ones to create a true symbiotic relationship between human beings and nature. The structure of the chapter is divided into a first part explaining what it means and implies to design for space.The central part is dedicated to analyzing the environmental conditions of the Moon that most influence the design of habitable structures. The third and final part describes several case studies that concern the theme of microalgae and that have been developed by Space4InspirAction at the Politecnico di Milano, the first and unique laboratory of Space Architecture and Design in the world supported by the European Space Agency (ESA).