NASA to Test Moon Home in Antarctica

Remember at the end of season two on Lost when Locke and Desmond don't push the button and the sky turns purple? The last scene finds Desmond's lady friend getting a call from two guys in a bunker somewhere in Antarctica. Well, while NASA may not be looking for 7418880 Electromagnetic Anomalies they are housing a couple of researchers in an inflatable home in Antarctic to test moon habitats.

The space agency showed off an inflatable habitat two weeks ago, that will be set up in Antarctica starting this January. The dome will be used for a year to see if it can endure the harsh, cold, and isolated landscape of the Antarctic. NASA hopes this will give them a better idea as to what would happen if they sent one of these up when they go back to explore the moon in 2020.

"To land one pound of supplies on the lunar surface, it'll require us to launch 125 pounds of hardware and fuel to get it there," Paul Lockhart, director of Constellation Systems for NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate said. "So our habitation concepts have to be lightweight as well as durable. This prototype inflatable habitat can be taken down and redeployed multiple times, and it only takes four crew members a few hours to set up, permitting exploration beyond the initial landing area."

The structure looks something like an inflatable backyard bounce house for children, but it is far more sophisticated. It is insulated and heated, has power and is pressurized. It offers 384 square feet of living space and has, at its highest point, an 8-foot ceiling. During the test period, sensors will allow engineers to monitor the habitat's performance.

More photos of the blow-up hut after the jump. All photos courtesy of NASA.