Facilities

Core Module

The core module of ILMAH serves as the communications nerve center where crews gather for meals, crew to mission control briefings, and downtime. At 360 square feet of habitable volume, it can house a crew of three to four people for missions up to thirty days. There are four living quarters, a galley, dining area, hygiene compartment, and a computer station.

Plant Production Module

Plant growth will be important for scientific exploration, closed ecological life support system operations, and human health and well-being. The plant production greenhouse and hydroponics system enables growth of plants to support crew nutritional and psychological needs. Crews monitor and care for a variety of vegetables, microgreens, and flowering plants.

EVA and Maintenance Module

The extra-vehicular activity (EVA) and maintenance module provides a dedicated workshop and airlock for donning and doffing the NDX-2AT suits. With a dust mitigating suit port design, this module provides for minimal contaminants inside the habitat. This module allows a second means of surface exploration in addition to the rover. Crews practice emergency egress simulations, testing and modifying new suits, egressing with larger equipment, mapping the area, and collecting samples. Four suits are available for on-site EVA use.

Science Module

The science module is a dedicated space for equipment, instrumentation, and workspace to support geological, microbiological, engineering, and other studies. Consumables, tools, and instruments are organized in coded built-in shelving to maximize workspace, research flexibility, and problem-solving capabilities with mission control. Crews often evaluate soil cores and rocks collected on EVA and transferred in a secure glovebox to the habitat for physical and chemical properties, as well as culture a variety of biological species from internal and external samples.

Exercise and Human Performance Module

The exercise and human performance module provides a space for exercise equipment, medical research, and health monitoring of the crew. The equipment mimics that used by current NASA astronauts, including treadmill, stationary ski and bike machines, weights, hand grip strengthening devices, and yoga mats. The crew medical bay is located within the exercise and human performance module and contains equipment to evaluate astronaut health including an EEG headset, cortisol saliva sample kits, sleep and activity watches, a blood pressure monitor, an oxygen saturation monitor, and a first aid EMT bag. Daily activities for the crews include exercise, completing wellness surveys, and recording vitals.