🚀 Inflatable "houses" for the moon

Engineers are faced with a major problem: transporting large habitable modules into space using rockets with limited capabilities. Private companies are now proposing a practical solution: structures that deploy once in orbit or at their destination.

In this context, Voyager Technologies has just announced a multi-million dollar investment in Max Space, a specialist in expandable habitats for the Moon. This partnership is intended to accelerate the development of these modules by increasing production and strengthening engineering efforts. The shared goal is to make this technology operational for future lunar missions.


These habitats are designed to fold compactly, allowing them to fit inside the fairing of rockets like SpaceX's Falcon 9. Once they arrive at their destination, on the Moon or in orbit, they deploy to offer an interior space much larger than traditional rigid modules.

This collaboration also fits within the framework of NASA's Artemis program, which plans a crewed Moon landing in 2028 and the establishment of a permanent human presence. Expandable modules could thus become elements for a surface lunar base, providing spacious habitats.

The concept of an expandable habitat is not entirely new. NASA had tested a similar module, the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, attached to the International Space Station in 2016 to study its performance. Financial problems unfortunately led to the closure of Bigelow Aerospace. Max Space now hopes to develop larger and more robust versions.

How expandable habitats work

Expandable habitats rely on clever engineering that allows their size to be reduced during launch. They are made from flexible and resilient materials, often reinforced polymers, which can be folded or rolled to fit in tight spaces. Once in place, an inflation or mechanical deployment system makes them take their final shape, creating significant habitable volumes without weighing down the rocket.


Compared to traditional rigid structures, these habitats offer several advantages. Their reduced mass at liftoff allows for fuel savings and lower launch costs. Furthermore, their ability to expand after arrival means astronauts benefit from increased comfort, with more space to live, work, and store equipment, which is vital for long-duration missions on the Moon or Mars.

The durability of these modules is tested in extreme environments. They must withstand space radiation, temperature fluctuations, and micrometeorites. Tests on Earth and in orbit, such as those with the BEAM module, have shown that these structures can be safe and reliable.

In the future, innovations in this field could include self-deploying systems or smart materials that adapt to conditions. These advances could make expandable habitats even more effective, facilitating the establishment of permanent bases beyond Earth orbit.