The Thermal Hogan - A Means of Surviving the Lunar Night

document describes the Thermal Hogan, a new shelter concept that would be used on the Moon to moderate the extreme nighttime temperatures, allowing survival of equipment with minimal heater power. It is lightweight, has few mechanical parts, and would be relatively easy to deploy on the Moon. The Lunar Hogan has two parts: an insulated shelter and a thermal mass. The shelter is constructed of multilayer insulation (MLI) draped over a structural framework. Entry and egress are accomplished either by raising the structure or via a door constructed of the same MLI material as the shelter. The thermal mass can be manufactured from locally available materials, either by piling substantially sized rocks to a depth of 0.25 meter, or by filling a 0.25-meter-deep conductive honeycomb-like structure with lunar dust. For ease of transport, the structural framework and honeycomb can be collapsible. The door can be opened by pushing on it in either direction. Gravity would cause it to close and it could be sealed via magnetic strips on the doorframe.