Structures for extraterrestrial habitat: A review

Space exploration has long captured the human imagination, yet humans have spent only a few cumulative days beyond Earth’s surface during the Apollo program. As today’s missions aim to stay longer on the Moon and Mars, the need for reliable, long-lasting habitation structures has become a key design challenge. Extraterrestrial habitats are engineered systems designed to support human life beyond Earth. This paper provides a multidisciplinary and design-oriented analysis of pressurized inflatable habitats for surface applications on the Moon and Mars, with particular focus on the structural and habitability requirements imposed by partial gravity. The article begins with an analysis of lunar and Martian environments and their impact on habitat design and local resource utilization. It then traces the historical development of inflatable habitats from 1952 to the present, shaped by technological and geopolitical factors. A comparative study of materials, morphology, and deployment strategies follows, while current numerical and experimental validation methods are reviewed to provide a framework for future habitat development.