Lunar base design: a paradigm for the capstone design course

Most engineering programs have a capstone design course, as per the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) requirements, the recognized US accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology. This paper proposes that such a course be placed in a larger and coupled design framework, that is, that all student design groups choose or be assigned a project that considers some aspects of the design of a lunar surface structure intended for human habitation. The senior mechanical and aerospace engineering capstone design course is a two-semester six credit course sequence that is intended to expose each graduating engineering student to the full spectrum of engineering experience. A review is given of the essentials of lunar surface structures design. Example project areas are given