MoonDao-Guidelines for the design of a lunar storm shelter

Abstract

Space radiation from solar storms is like a dangerous "invisible storm" that can hurt astronauts on the Moon and compromise entire space missions. I want to provide guidelines on how to design a simple, safe "storm shelter" built into a lunar surface habitat, where astronauts can quickly go inside during a solar storm to stay protected. This project will use NASA's radiation simulation tools and my extensive expertise from years of research funded by NASA and show MoonDAO how space radiation protection research is performed to clear common misunderstandings that are hurting space technology design, and open way that benefits everyone exploring the Moon.

Problem

Astronauts on the Moon will face two main radiation hazards:

• Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs): constant, high-energy particles from outside the solar system.
• Solar Particle Events (SPEs): sudden, intense bursts of mostly protons from solar storms that can deliver dangerous doses in hours.
• Current lunar habitat concepts often do not include dedicated, rapidly accessible storm shelters optimized for SPEs. Without such shelters, astronauts could be exposed to unsafe radiation levels during solar storms, increasing health risks and limiting mission duration and safety.

Solution

This project will:

1. Define shelter requirements.

• Use my expertise and guidance to set target dose limits for SPEs in a lunar storm shelter with realistic margins.
• Specify location (e.g. central part of habitat, possibly under regolith cover) and define optimal access times.

2. Model radiation transport with NASA simulation codes.

• Use NASA tools such as:

• HZETRN / OHMAN suite for proton and heavy ion

• Simulate SPE spectra (e.g. typical and worst-case solar proton events) and compute dose inside the shelter for different wall materials (e.g. aluminum, polyethylene, water, regolith).

3. Deliverables for MoonDAO

• An education report with guidelines to address:

• Guidelines for MoonDAO and community developers on how to integrate storm shelters into lunar habitat designs.

• A concise summary for the MoonDAO community.

Open questions / future directions:

• How to validate models with real data from lunar missions (Artemis, future surface missions)?
• Potential to extend methods to Mars habitats or deep-space spacecraft.

Benefits

• Scientific and safety benefit: Provides a concrete, simulation-backed storm shelter concept that can reduce astronaut radiation risk during SPEs, supporting safer lunar exploration.

• MoonDAO benefit:

• IP Statement: This grant funds the creation of a MoonDao-facing educational report and guidelines derived from the author's proprietary research. This is a non-equity grant, and all underlying intellectual property remains with ISE – Space Radiation Experts. MoonDAO receives the knowledge asset and associated community benefits. MoonDAO is not to share this knowledge outside of its MoonDAO Community / Members nor exploit it for financial gains unless authorized in writing by the Author.

• Demonstrates MoonDAO's ability to fund serious, high-impact space research rather than only software or art.

• Creates openly shared knowledge (reports, summaries, possibly code) that other MoonDAO habitat or space projects can reuse.

• Positions MoonDAO as a partner for future lunar habitat challenges, increasing credibility and attractiveness to space-focused contributors.

• Revenue potential (long-term):

     ROI to MoonDao: Present findings in one educational workshop for the MoonDAO community based on the report to upskill N members.
  

Risks

IP Statement:

This grant funds the creation of a public-facing technical report and guidelines derived from the author's proprietary models. This is a non-equity grant, and all underlying intellectual property remains with ISE – Space Radiation Experts. MoonDAO receives the knowledge asset and associated community benefits.

• • modeling uncertainty:* Radiation transport models have acceptable uncertainties; and thus results will be approximate.

• Mitigation: Use multiple NASA tools, compare to published benchmarks, and clearly state assumptions and limitations in the report.

• Mitigation: Keep the habitat model guidelines simplified as to be understood by a non-expert readership (single module + shelter), focus on shielding principles, not full engineering designs.

• Data access: Some NASA codes/tools may require accounts or have licensing restrictions.

• Mitigation: Use publicly available versions or community-supported implementations; document any limitations.

• Community expectations: MoonDAO members may expect a fully engineered habitat.

• Mitigation: Clearly communicate that this is a focused radiation-shielding guidelines study, not a complete habitat design.

Objectives

Objective #1: Deliver a simulation-backed lunar storm shelter design educational guidelines report and MoonDao report/educational webminar within 90 days.

Key Results for Objective #1:

1. Simulation results: A shielding configuration principles guidelines based on modelled studies performed with NASA codes, with dose calculations for a worst-case SPE scenario.
2. Design recommendations: Realistic versus unrealistic models for shelter designs (materials, thicknesses, layout).
3. Technical report: One formal report (PDF, ~max 10 pages) with methods, results, and design guidelines.
4. MoonDao summary: One simplified summary (≤ 2 pages + simple diagrams) written in ELI5 style for the MoonDAO community.

Member(s) responsible for OKR and their role:

Irene Schneider, as technical lead for the report/educational webminar.

Team (Table A)

Project Lead

Project Lead: Irene Schneider DiscordUsername: @IreneSchneiderISE

Team is comprised of only one member, Irene Schneider. This tiny budget does not allow for a full team of researchers.

Role: Project Lead and MoonDAO Senate representative. Responsible for:

• Presenting at monthly town halls.
• Writing weekly updates.
• Managing the project multisig and budget.
• Delivering the final report.

Initial Team

Role 1: "Solar Storm Radiation Guidelines for a lunar storm shelter" @IreneSchneiderISE

• Description: Leads use of NASA radiation simulation codes (HZETRN based tools), simulates habitat + shelter model, runs SPE simulations, and performs dose analysis.
• Deliverables: shielding optimization guidelines analysis/expert advice.

Team Bios

Project Lead: Irene Schneider Irene Schneider is the CEO and Founder of ISE – Space Radiation Experts, a scientific consulting firm specializing in comprehensive space radiation protection analysis for missions and spacecraft. She has decades of experience in space radiation physics, mission safety, and radiation risk assessment, and frequently speaks at space conferences on radiation protection for lunar and deep-space missions.iseradiations+2 Social: Website – https://www.iseradiations.com

Timeline (Table B)

Deadline for the project: End of Q4 2026 (2026‑12‑31). Our planned completion is 90 days after approval, well before this deadline.

Budget (Table C)

Total budget: US $2,125 All amounts in USD; final funding will be sent in ETH/MOONEY at current rates.

(If MoonDAO requires the total in ETH, it will be converted at the transaction time using the current ETH/USD rate.)