Moon bounce

Science World, Feb 4, 2008 by Charlene Brusso

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

What do the moon and the South Pole have in common? They're both extremely remote and harsh places in which to live. That's why NASA chose McMurdo Station in Antarctica to test a new inflatable habitat similar to one that may someday house astronauts visiting the moon.

The blowup "hab" looks like a carnival bounce house made of tough insulated fabric. The building is reusable and takes only a few hours to set up or pack. Since it takes 26 kilograms (77 pounds) of equipment and fuel just to deliver 1 kg (2.2 lb) of supplies to the moon, NASA also likes that the hab is lightweight. During the hab's trial run at McMurdo, sensors in its walls will measure temperature, pressure, and strain. The information will show researchers how well the structure stands up to Antarctic blizzards, and how it might handle the moon's chilly -153[degrees]C (-307[degrees]F) nights. It's not outer space, but Antarctica may be the best place to start preparing for the next lunar mission.