NASA’s Bold Plan: Glass Bubbles for Moon Habitats
NASA is exploring a futuristic concept to house astronauts on the Moon using a resource that is already present on the lunar surface: lunar glass. The idea, championed by a private contractor called Skyeports, envisions large, transparent glass bubbles formed from melted lunar regolith. These self-contained habitats could provide the first long-term living spaces for humans on the Moon, turning a difficult logistics problem into a resourceful solution.
The plan aligns with NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence. Artemis II, a 10-day crewed test flight, is expected to launch by 2026, followed by Artemis III, which targets a lunar landing for mid-2027. While the timelines are ambitious, proponents argue that a glass-based habitat could significantly reduce the mass and volume of material that must be shipped from Earth, leveraging local materials instead.
From Tiny Bubbles to Moon Habitats
The core idea rests on transforming lunar glass—glass created from the Moon’s own soil and mineral fragments—into large, self-supporting bubbles. In early tests, Skyeports researchers demonstrated the ability to “blow” small glass bubbles from lunar glass using a technology akin to a smart microwave furnace. The next challenge is scale: expanding the bubbles from a few inches to hundreds or even thousands of feet in diameter to create livable spaces.
The process would begin with collecting lunar regolith and concentrating its glass content. The material would be melted in a smart microwave furnace, a device designed to operate in a space environment and to shape the molten glass into a bubble. Once formed, the bubble would harden into a transparent, protective shell capable of housing crews and equipment. This approach leverages the Moon’s abundant, in-situ resources to minimize the need for frequent resupply missions from Earth.
Inside these glass structures, the design envisions standard living amenities produced with 3D-printed components. Materials transported from Earth would be reduced to essential components, with many internal fittings printed directly from lunar-derived feedstock. This holistic use of in-situ resources is central to the broader goal of sustaining a long-term lunar presence without prohibitive launch costs.
Self-Healing Glass: Resilience for Moonquakes and Micrometeoroids
A notable element of the concept is the inclusion of self-healing properties. The Moon is not a peaceful, inert environment; it experiences “moonquakes” and is constantly pelted by micrometeoroids. To address this, researchers are exploring polymers that can reorganize themselves after cracks, effectively repairing minor damage over time. In practice, a self-healing glass shell would reduce maintenance needs and improve crew safety in harsh lunar conditions.
Power would come from solar panels, a natural fit for the Moon’s extended sunlight periods. The resulting habitat would rely on a combination of sunlight, energy storage, and efficient thermal control to maintain a stable living environment during the lunar night. Engineers emphasize that functionality, safety, and reliability are paramount in the early habitat designs as humans begin extended stays on the Moon.
Strategic, Cost-Efficient Space Architecture
An important advantage of the glass bubble concept is its potential to consolidate multiple functions into a single structure. The same large bubble could serve as living quarters, laboratories, and communal areas, with entryways and connecting modules formed from blown glass or repurposed lunar-derived infrastructure such as gas pipes. This multipurpose approach could reduce launch costs while enabling flexible mission architectures for exploration, science, and resource utilization missions on the lunar surface.
Beyond the Moon: A Vision for Space Cities
Skyeports’ founder, Dr. Martin Bermudez, envisions a broader ecosystem of glass spheres connected by glass bridges, forming a modular city on the Moon. He even imagines expanding the concept to orbiting structures, projecting a future where glass-based habitats become a standard approach for living in space. While such ambitions remain speculative, the underlying principle—harnessing local materials to build sustainable habitats—resonates with NASA’s long-term goals for sustainable space exploration.
What this Means for Artemis and the Path Ahead
As NASA advances Artemis missions, the timeline for deploying groundbreaking habitat technologies remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the lunar glass bubble concept provides a compelling blueprint for how humans might settle the Moon more efficiently by turning a local resource into a durable, resilient home. If successful, this approach could transform space architecture, demonstrating that future lunar cities may rise from the very dust beneath our boots.
