ABSTRACT
Current and future goals for human activities on the Moon could be achieved by the creation of underground spaces. Locating a human habitat several meters below the lunar surface by tunnelling would provide greater protection from hazards than a surface habitat covered in regolith while also providing a more stable thermal environment than the surface. A Lunar Tunnel Boring Machines (LTBM) would be designed for the lunar environment and boring in lunar material. A LTBM could be used to access riles (lava tubes) at a distance from collapsed sections or skylights, thus reducing the hazard of rock fall when exploring these regions. LTBM could also be adapted for the frozen regolith in the permanently shadowed craters at the lunar poles, which may be an attractive option for access to lunar ice resources. This paper will discuss lunar base design concepts and requirements and possibility of application of a LTBM.
