As NASA and the European Space Agency join forces to master plan an astronaut base on the lunar South Pole, ESA-backed designer Jorge Mañes Rubio has proposed robotically constructing a monumental Moon Temple open to all spacefarers. According to Rubio, the cosmic citadel is designed to serve as a centerpiece for Moon Base Alpha and a celestial beacon for humanity’s expanding spacefaring civilization.
Blueprint for a Cosmic Citadel at Moon Base Alpha
Rubio sketched out blueprints for the Moon Temple after being embedded in the European Space Agency’s Advanced Concepts Team (ACT). The think tank explores advances in science, technology, culture, and civilization to support the next stage of human exploration. According to Rubio, the original space race was driven by superpower competition, but the current wave of national agencies and independent outfits creates a chance to build a utopia. He states that a cosmopolitan United Nations of astronauts gathering inside the temple could collectively map out a new cosmic culture, much like ancient citizens of Athens met in temples and agoras to design their democratic future.
Timeline and Leadership for the Lunar South Pole
Independent space pilot Jared Isaacman, selected to head up and guide NASA during the second Moon race, has outlined plans for astronauts to land on the southern tip of the Moon in 2028. According to Isaacman, astronauts will start shaping a functioning base and assembling a habitat a year later in 2029. The site features surreally illuminated terrain where peaks are perpetually sunlit and nearby craters remain in eternal shadow. Isaacman earned recognition across the NewSpace sector after piloting orbital missions to test experimental SpaceX spacesuits and a specially adapted Dragon capsule for the world’s first spacewalk by an independent aeronaut.
Architectural Design and Lunar Gravity Advantages
The colossal domed architecture of the Moon Temple would collapse under its own weight on Earth, but can survive on the Moon because lunar mass generates just one-sixth of Earth’s gravity, according to Rubio. The structure features an immense arched oculus facing the horizon, positioned so the Earth appears to float across the skyline before giving way every two weeks to a star-filled sky. Rubio notes the design echoes Skyspaces created by American artist-architect James Turrell, turning the Earth and Milky Way into living artwork.
Did you know? The design of the Moon Temple was inspired by Jan Woerner, onetime Director General of the European Space Agency, who championed the transnational “Moon Village” concept. Woerner often brandished prints of a Moon Base that ESA co-designed with British architecture studio Foster + Partners, featuring 3D-printed lunar habitats.
Global Coalitions and Observatory Features
Woerner’s vision of an expanding lunar enclave is echoed by NASA’s Artemis Accords, an international framework established under then-Administrator Jim Bridenstine. According to Bridenstine, Artemis will be the broadest and most diverse international human space exploration program in history, with a global coalition that now allies 70 nations to ensure a safe and peaceful future in space. Alongside its role as a cultural hub, Rubio states that the Moon Temple will function as an observatory equipped with a liquid mirror telescope, reflecting ancient traditions where temples doubled as celestial observatories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed the Moon Temple?
The Moon Temple was designed by European designer Jorge Mañes Rubio following an embedding in the European Space Agency’s Advanced Concepts Team.
When are astronauts scheduled to build the lunar base?
According to Jared Isaacman, the first astronauts are planned to alight on the lunar South Pole in 2028, with habitat construction slated to begin in 2029.
Where can the public view the Moon Temple design?
The European Space Agency hosts a virtual exhibition of the Moon Temple on its website, and Museum Het Schip in Amsterdam is set to feature the design in its “Bright New World. Imagination Takes Power” exhibition.
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