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:

• 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.

• Use NASA tools such as:

• HZETRN / OHMAN suite for proton and heavy ion transport.ntrs.nasa

• GEANT4-based models (used in NASA RadWorks) for detailed shielding studies.spacearchitect+1

• Build a simplified 3D model of a lunar surface habitat module with an integrated storm shelter.

• 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).

• A technical report with guidelines to adress:

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

• A concise public summary for the MoonDAO community.

• Optional: simple open-source input files / scripts for hobbyist simulations (where permissible).

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:

• 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):

• If this work is extended to a larger consultancy or licensing model with lunar habitat developers, it could generate consulting revenue (e.g. $50k–$200k+ per larger study), but this proposal itself is a small research proof-of-step and does not promise immediate revenue.

Risks

• • 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.

• Scope creep: the report will be issuing expert guidelines and not detailed engineering diagrams as attempting too detailed a habitat designs is very costly and exceeds the tiny budget.

• 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 and public report within 90 days.

Key Results for Objective #1:

Member(s) responsible for OKR and their role:

Irene Schneider, as technical lead for simulations.

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: "Radiation Guidelines for solar storms" @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.

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 Q3 2026 (2026-09-30). Our planned completion is 90 days after approval, well before this deadline.

Budget (Table C)

Total budget: US $4,682 All amounts in USD; final funding will be sent in ETH/MOONEY at current rates.

town hall presentations | $400 | 4 hours at $100/hr for community updates, final report editing, and MoonDAO governance duties over 3 months. | | Radiation Simulations – modeling, simulations, analysis | $4,282 | 17 hours at $250/hr for habitat/shelter models configuration, running NASA code simulations, dose analysis, and technical report contributions. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Total | $4,682 | Total matches the requested proposal budget of US $4,682. |

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