Shackleton Crater is an impact crater lying at the South Pole of the Moon. The ridges along the crater’s rim are exposed to almost continual sunlight, while the interior is perpetually cast in shadow. This low-temperature interior of the crater functions to capture frozen water shed during impacts on the Moon. Some sites along Shackleton’s rim receive almost constant illumination where sunlight is almost always available for conversion into electricity using solar panels, potentially making attractive sites for future Moon landings. The temperature at these sites is also more favorable than at more equatorial latitudes as it does not experience the daily temperature extremes of 100 °C. The crater is named after Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton.
The 3D model of the Moon was created by IDIA Lab by using height and color data provided by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter project. This data was then imported into a digital terrain generator to create a continuously accurate and scalable model of the entire lunar surface. This project was created for the International MoonBase Alliance and ImmersiveWorlds, LLC. Produced by IDIA Lab.
About IMA: The International MoonBase Alliance (IMA) is an association composed of leading scientists, educators, and entrepreneurs from space agencies and industries worldwide to advance the development and implementation of an international base on the Moon.
Our priority is to create an action plan that will culminate with the building of MoonBase prototypes on Earth, followed by a sustainable settlement on the Moon. Building on discussions and recommendations from the Lunar Exploration and Analysis Group (LEAG), the European Lunar Symposium, the International Space Development Conference, the NewSpace Symposium, the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), and other worldwide space forums, we intend to formulate an integrated strategy for establishing a proposed multinational lunar base.
Towards this goal, the IMA hosted a 2017 summit last October on Hawaii’s Big Island and invited leading aerospace, engineering and space industry professionals for a series of conferences focusing on identifying essential resources and technological capabilities required to enable and sustain lunar-based operations. Through the promotion of international collaborations and public-private partnerships, we can reduce costs, enhance benefits, and accelerate timetables for lunar settlements. http://moonbasealliance.com/
The Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA Lab) at Ball State University explores the intersection between the arts, science, and technology. Scholarly, creative and pedagogical projects investigate virtual reality, human computer interface (HCI), augmented reality, mobile apps, visualization and 3D simulation to heighten understanding across disciplines. The Lab was funded through the Eli Lilly Foundation’s Digital Media Initiative as part of a $40 million dollar grant. Our faculty, staff and students develop projects in partnership with international clients in this innovative studio initiative investigating the forefront of emergent design and learning.
Acknowledgements: Special thanks to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission.