Researchers from the USA put forward a concept for building a spaceport on the Moon using lunar regolith. The study is published in the journal Acta Astronautica and is viewed as one of the stages in preparing for long-term NASA missions.
The developers point out that the primary challenge of the project is ensuring the strength and heat resistance of the construction materials. They plan to create a landing pad resilient to the impact of exhaust gases up to 3400 °C, without using steel reinforcement.
The surface must withstand the touchdown of spacecraft weighing up to 50 tons, such as Blue Moon. Unlike the Apollo missions, where landing occurred on unprepared ground, future bases will demand reinforced infrastructure to prevent damage from dust and rocks.
It is separately mentioned that the United States still pursues ambitious plans to install a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030, established back in Donald Trump’s directive. Some experts, including Chinese military analyst Lan Shunzheng, consider these timelines unlikely, reports “AiF”.
About the Author
