Chinese researchers are developing a proposed framework of reference measurements and design standards for future buildings and habitats on the Moon, recognizing that terrestrial architectural guidelines will not translate directly. Led by Professor Han Chenping (also referenced as Han Chengping) of the School of Architecture and Design at the China University of Mining and Technology, the team presented their work at the recent International Astronautical Congress in Türkiye. Their research, detailed in an IAC abstract titled “Research on Common Dimensions for Lunar Architectural Design Based on the Analysis of Astronauts Behavior Characteristics and Biomechanics under the Influence of Lunar Gravity,” starts from the premise that long-term human habitation requires spaces optimized for lunar conditions rather than simply scaled versions of Earth buildings.

The dominant factor is gravity. Surface gravity on the Moon is approximately one-sixth that of Earth. This alters how people move, maintain balance, and occupy space. Han told CGTN that “buildings on the moon and on Earth will certainly be different, and the differences will be huge.” People’s gait, posture, center-of-mass shifts, activity ranges, and effective body dimensions change under reduced gravity. The team analyzed Chinese astronaut anthropometric data alongside expected behaviors such as a “walk-skip” gait, neutral body posture, and common daily actions. Using ergonomics and biomechanical methods, they calculated shifts in height, width, thickness, angles, and activity envelopes.

One concrete result is an estimate for stair or step height: roughly twice that of a typical Earth step. The figure accounts not only for the greater vertical reach possible in low gravity but also for the need to preserve balance and stability. Beyond steps, the preliminary framework addresses door heights, indoor clearances, passage widths, table and seat heights, chair backrest angles, seat depths, railing and handrail heights, bunk clearances, and overall volume requirements for single and multi-person spaces. The researchers conclude that simply applying Earth-based common dimensions derived from terrestrial anthropometry would fail to meet astronauts’ needs on the lunar surface. They also note that results will vary with different national or population datasets, underscoring the value of standardized lunar-specific references.

Developing these measurements is inherently difficult. Lunar conditions—vacuum, extreme temperature swings, abrasive regolith dust, radiation, and especially the gravity environment—cannot be fully replicated on Earth. Ground simulations (such as suspension systems or parabolic flights) provide partial data but lack the sustained, multi-day behavioral fidelity required for reliable architectural standards. The team emphasizes that final validation will require testing on the Moon itself. Their stated goal is practical: “To make future living and working spaces on the moon safe, comfortable and efficient.”

This work sits within a broader Chinese effort on lunar construction. Parallel research has explored sintering lunar soil into bricks, using traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery for egg-shaped or double-layered dome habitats, and solar concentrators capable of melting regolith for in-situ material production. The dimensional standards proposed by Han’s group address the human side of the same problem—how people will actually move and live inside structures once the materials and construction methods are solved.

Context on International Lunar Missions and Building on the Moon

The Chinese dimensional research arrives amid an intensifying global push toward sustained lunar presence. NASA’s Artemis program completed its crewed Artemis II flyby in April 2026. Subsequent plans have shifted: Artemis III is now configured as a 2027 Earth-orbit test involving commercial landers (SpaceX Starship and Blue Origin Blue Moon), while the first crewed landing is targeted for Artemis IV in 2028 near the lunar south pole. Gateway development was paused to prioritize a surface base. The Artemis Accords now include roughly 77–78 signatories.

China aims for a crewed landing before 2030. Recent public timelines outline progressive tests: an uncrewed Mengzhou spacecraft flight in early 2027, an uncrewed Lanyue lander demonstration in 2028, a dual-launch orbital rendezvous in 2029, and the crewed mission thereafter. Parallel robotic missions support the China-Russia-led International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). Chang’e-7 (south-pole water-ice investigation) was postponed from its 2026 window; Chang’e-8, targeted around 2029, is expected to demonstrate in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), including regolith brick-making, with international payloads. ILRS envisions a basic station by approximately 2035 at the south pole, expanding thereafter.

India continues its independent track with Chandrayaan-4 (sample-return mission, ~2028, with a south-polar landing site identified at Mons Mouton) and the joint ISRO-JAXA Chandrayaan-5/LUPEX effort focused on polar volatiles. These programs, along with commercial efforts, converge on the same practical necessities: radiation and thermal protection, dust mitigation, power, and habitats that can be built largely from local materials.

Building on the Moon therefore centers on ISRU. Transporting structural mass from Earth is prohibitively expensive, so researchers worldwide are advancing methods to turn regolith into usable materials—solar sintering and melting (including Chinese solar-furnace concentrators that have reached high temperatures in tests), binder-based or binderless composites, geopolymers, and additive manufacturing. Concepts range from 3D-printed regolith shells and interlocking sintered blocks to mobile printing systems and hybrid inflatable-rigid designs. Chinese work on egg-shaped “lunar pot” habitats using traditional joinery techniques and Harbin Institute of Technology solar-furnace research illustrate one national approach; U.S. university and industry efforts on low-energy regolith composites, robotic construction, and landing-pad infrastructure illustrate others.

Habitability standards such as those under development by Han’s team become relevant once the structural shell exists. Reduced gravity changes locomotion, balance, and the effective scale of human movement; radiation and thermal extremes demand thick shielding; dust is abrasive and electrostatic; and psychological factors favor efficient, comfortable volumes. International programs share the south-pole focus for water ice (usable for life support and propellant), yet differ in timelines, partnership models, and technological emphases. The emerging lunar architectural guidelines represent an early attempt to ensure that whatever structures are ultimately built—whether under Artemis, ILRS, or other frameworks—will actually support human activity rather than merely withstand the environment.