Luleå student contributes to next-generation lunar infrastructure

Akshata Raut, a student from the SpaceMaster programme at Luleå University of Technology, recently took part in a prestigious Space Station Design Workshop. The participants were tasked with developing an entire lunar infrastructure.

The one-week-long workshop was held at the Technical University of Munich, Germany. In total there were 42 participants from all over the world who were divided into two teams to complete challenging tasks. Guided by a team of 24 experts from the space industry, the participants had to create an entire lunar infrastructure which could accommodate 25 astronauts by 2050 and 75 astronauts by 2070. It should also be able to create surplus fuel by the year 2070 and thus have achieved partial Earth independence.

“It was an incredibly educational workshop. While it was strenuous and challenging with non-negotiable deadlines and even a scheduled all-nighter, I learnt a lot. It was amazing to see everyone working with such dedication and passion”, Akshata Raut says and continues:

“I worked as a Radiation Subsystem Engineer to protect a crew of 25-75 astronauts in the lunar infrastructure from harmful radiation on the surface of the moon. We got to use OLTARIS, a web-based software from NASA to simulate lunar radiation environments and assess different shielding materials for radiation protection.”

A Rigorous Test of Knowledge and Teamwork

The space station design workshop is a serious ordeal for the participants. The ambitious goal of creating an entire lunar infrastructure is a testament to that. The two teams, Team Weiß and Team Blau, had to deliver a Mission Design Review, Preliminary Design Review, Presentations, Final Report, Team Poster, Team Introduction Video and a 3D Printed Model of the lunar infrastructure. On top of this, as aforementioned, the teams had to work the entire night at one point which tested the participants’ pressure and ability to handle stress.

“Although the workshop was remarkably challenging, I think we all did great. Learning so many different things, working with experts and getting hands-on experience with fundamental principles of space radiation all within a week are unique and valuable experiences that I will cherish forever”, Akshata Raut says.

“Not only did I thoroughly enjoy presenting my work as I am passionate about it and find it deeply fulfilling, but taking on this new challenge refined my adaptability and ability to manage diverse tasks, including effectively navigating a completely different field. Collaborating with my team and interacting with other subsystems was also very rewarding”, she says.

Building the Future of Space Exploration

Before starting her master’s programme at Luleå University of Technology she already aspired to be involved in the design process of a crewed space mission. This workshop thus immediately intrigued her.

“I did feel somewhat prepared for the workshop. During my studies at Kiruna Space Campus, I learned about space radiation which greatly helped in developing my foundational understanding of the concepts to be applied at the workshop”, she says.

“However, new challenges emerged as the workshop progressed. A month prior we were assigned comprehensive tasks such as working with software as well as creating a report that presented a thorough overview of the key concepts of our respective subsystems. While these provided a foundation, the workshop pushed our abilities further.”

This year’s workshop was especially competitive with many bright participants and although Akshata Raut’s team lost just by narrow margin her experience at the workshop solidified her passion for working in the space sector.

“Presenting to a panel of experts increased my enthusiasm for sharing my work and has further driven my ambition to advance my career," she says.

As space agencies and private companies look to the future of lunar exploration and resource utilization, the innovative concepts developed by Akshata Raut and her peers at the workshop could play a vital role in shaping tomorrow's space missions. The ideas from her team’s project could be used in future space missions.