Modular Moon Base – Magnetic Lunar Habitat

Modular Moon Base – A Complete Two-Person Lunar Habitat

This project is a fully 3D-printable modular Moon base concept, developed as part of a project for the ESA Moon Camp competition.

Rather than designing the habitat as one enormous building, I approached it as a network of individual specialized modules connected by enclosed corridors. The goal was to represent the different systems that would be needed for two people to live, work and remain self-sufficient on the Moon for an extended period: power generation, resource utilization, food production, research, maintenance, healthcare, hygiene, private living space, recreation, storage and surface exploration.

The original design study was inspired by a possible lunar south-pole settlement and considered issues such as crew safety, isolation, ISRU, resource recycling and psychological wellbeing. The finished 3D model translates those ideas into a physical, modular display that can be opened and explored.

This is a conceptual/educational scale model, not a functional pressure vessel or an engineering-certified lunar habitat.

Modular Construction

One of the main features of this project is that the base is not printed as one giant object.

Each habitat module is divided into a lower base and a removable dome-shaped upper shell. The two halves are held together using 8 × 2 mm neodymium magnets, allowing the dome to be removed whenever you want to reveal the interior.

The corridors use the same idea: they consist of lower and upper sections that can also be separated and held together magnetically.

This means the completed Moon base can be displayed in two completely different ways: as a closed lunar settlement with protective dome-like structures, or opened up to reveal the internal layout and equipment.

The modules and corridors are joined through separate cylindrical connector pieces. These connectors should be glued in place to make the assembled structure rigid and reliable.

The corridor system also includes movable doors representing airlock mechanisms, helping demonstrate how individual sections of a real pressurized habitat could be isolated from each other.

The Habitat Modules

The complete base includes:

• Control Center – the central operational hub of the settlement.

• Energy & ISRU – represents power management and In-Situ Resource Utilization, including the concept of extracting and processing local lunar resources instead of transporting everything from Earth.

• Greenhouses – represents hydroponic food production and the role plants could play in a closed life-support system.

• Research Laboratories – dedicated space for lunar science, experiments and sample analysis.

• Recreation Area – a communal area representing exercise, relaxation and social activity, all of which become increasingly important during long-duration missions.

• Bedroom A & Bedroom B – separate private living/sleeping areas for the two crew members.

• Medical & WC – represents healthcare, first aid, hygiene and sanitation facilities.

• Technical Support – maintenance and technical systems required to keep the habitat operational.

• Rover Garage & Storage – provides a protected area for the surface rover together with equipment and spare-part storage.

• Solar Panel – a separate two-color solar-array model representing the base's external power-generation infrastructure.

Together these modules are intended to show that surviving on the Moon is not simply a matter of providing somewhere to sleep. A long-duration habitat needs an interconnected system addressing energy, water, oxygen, food, health, maintenance, scientific work, mobility, privacy and mental wellbeing.

Detailed Interiors

Several modules contain additional internal models representing equipment such as greenhouse systems, ISRU machinery, laboratory equipment and other habitat mechanisms.

These detail pieces are glued to the corresponding module bases and remain visible when the magnetic dome is removed.

Some of these optional mechanism/decorative models were created with AI-assisted design and are therefore provided separately from the main structural Moon-base files. This also allows you to print the base either as a cleaner architectural model or as the fully detailed display version shown in the photographs.

The lunar terrain/foam display base visible in some of the photos was handmade for the competition presentation and is not included in the downloadable files.

English and Greek Versions

Both English and Greek versions are included.

The module names are integrated as multicolor text so that the purpose of each part of the habitat can be identified directly on the model.

The main English and Greek profiles contain the structural base components without the optional decorative/AI-assisted internal mechanisms. The additional detail models are supplied separately, so you can decide how detailed you want your build to be.

MakerWorld note

If you initially see only the Greek main print profile, expand the print-profile sidebar/list.

The English version is also uploaded, but it may be hidden farther down under the collapsed sidebar.

Magnetic Assembly

For the complete magnetic version you will need approximately:

110+ × 8 × 2 mm neodymium magnets

The exact quantity depends on which parts you print and whether you populate every available magnetic connection.

Before gluing any magnets, check the polarity carefully. It is very easy to install one backwards and end up with two parts that repel each other.

Do not glue the removable dome or corridor covers themselves if you want to retain the opening functionality.

You will also need a small amount of superglue/CA glue or another plastic-compatible adhesive for the structural connector pieces, magnets where required, and the optional interior details.

Neodymium magnets are strong and brittle, so handle them carefully and keep them away from small children.

Rover

The rover included with this project is a modified version of “Mars Rover – The Curiosity Rover Small and Basic” by Jonny, over on Makerworld, all credits for this design go to him.

I modified it so that it fits the dimensions and presentation of this Moon-base project.

Original model: use the original MakerWorld link credited in this project's source/description.

Full credit for the original rover design goes to Jonny and the original source model.

Printing

Because this is a very large multi-part project, it is intentionally divided into many plates/files. You do not have to print every optional decorative component to build the basic Moon base.

The supplied print profiles are the best starting point.

For the main structural Moon-base parts, the uploaded profiles were prepared around a 0.6 mm nozzle, 4 walls and low infill, prioritizing reasonable print time while keeping the large shells sufficiently rigid.

The smaller detailed/interior components use finer settings, generally around 0.24 mm layer height, 2 walls and approximately 15% infill, depending on the part.

The final appearance can be improved significantly with multicolor printing for the labels and solar panel, but a multicolor printer is not mandatory; manual filament changes or single-color printing are also possible.

Because printers, filament and tolerances vary, I strongly recommend printing and testing a magnetic/connector section before committing to the complete build.

Why a Modular Moon Base?

A modular layout is more than an aesthetic choice.

Separating living, research, technical and resource-processing areas means that individual sections could theoretically be isolated during an emergency rather than putting the entire habitat at risk. It also makes the settlement easier to expand as new capabilities are delivered.

The original project brief therefore emphasized pressurized interconnections and airlocks as a way of reducing contamination and pressure-loss risks. The same study also treated private sleeping areas, recreation and exercise as essential parts of a long-duration mission rather than luxuries.

For this model, those ideas became a physical network of independent modules surrounding a central control area.

Educational / Display Use

This project works particularly well as:

a STEM or space-science display, a classroom demonstration of lunar-habitat systems, a science-fair project, an ESA/Moon Camp themed model, a discussion piece about ISRU and closed-loop life support, or simply a large space-themed 3D-printing project.

Removing the domes makes it easy to explain why each area exists and how the individual systems of a settlement depend on one another.

I hope you enjoy printing, assembling and exploring the base!

If you make one, I would love to see your version and any lunar terrain or additional modules you create for it.