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Architecture

Moonshot plan looks to recreate lunar experience on Earth

By Adam Williams
September 14, 2022
Moonshot plan looks to recreate lunar experience on Earth
The Moon project would have a budget of US$5 billion and rise to a height of 224 m (735 ft)
The Moon project would have a budget of US$5 billion and rise to a height of 224 m (735 ft)
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The Moon project would have a budget of US$5 billion and rise to a height of 224 m (735 ft)
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The Moon project would have a budget of US$5 billion and rise to a height of 224 m (735 ft)
Moon would include a casino, theater, night club, and more
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Moon would include a casino, theater, night club, and more
Moon's main attraction would aim to offer visitors the experience of walking on the lunar surface
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Moon's main attraction would aim to offer visitors the experience of walking on the lunar surface
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Even if it eventually becomes available, a vacation to the Moon is going to be financially out of reach for most of us. Such is the thinking behind a novel US$5-billion architecture proposal that's aimed at offering visitors a tiny taste of lunar life right here on Earth.

Bringing to mind the MSG Sphere London, Moon – as it's officially named – would take a spherical form that mimics our lunar neighbor. It would be situated on top of a disc-shaped podium structure and rise to an overall height of 224 m (735 ft). Structurally, it would consist of concrete, steel and glass, plus aluminum and carbon fiber.

The main attraction would be the simulation of a lunar surface situated in roughly the center of the spherical structure. Details on what the experience would entail are slim at this stage but it would offer a large landscape to explore.

"Moon's signature attraction will enable guests to experience walking on the lunar surface while exploring a vast working lunar colony," explained the press release. "An amazing, out of this world attraction, Moon will form the 'bridge' delivering an affordable and entirely authentic space tourism experience millions of enthusiasts around planet earth have been patiently waiting for; a chance to actually 'participate.'"

Moon's main attraction would aim to offer visitors the experience of walking on the lunar surface
Moon's main attraction would aim to offer visitors the experience of walking on the lunar surface

Elsewhere in the resort would be other space-themed attractions, a theater, casino, night club, events spaces, a wellness spa, and a hotel, plus approximately 300 luxury homes, which would be available for purchase.

Moon is expected to be constructed to the LEED green building standard, though there's no information on its actual sustainability features yet.

The project is the brainchild of Moon World Resorts Inc. (MWR), a Canada-based firm created by entrepreneurs Sandra G. Matthews and Michael R. Henderson. The plan is to eventually create four Moon resorts in total, in North America, Europe, Middle East/North Africa, and Asia. Dubai is currently the front-runner but nothing is set in stone at the moment, underlining that this one is still very much at the proposal stage.

Source: MWR

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ArchitectureDubaiMoonEntertainmentLuxuryHotel
4 comments
Adam Williams
Adam Williams
Adam scours the globe from his home in Spain in order to bring the best of innovative architecture and sustainable design to the pages of New Atlas. Most of his spare time is spent dabbling in music, tinkering with old Macintosh computers and trying to keep his even older VW bus on the road.

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4 comments
Jinpa
That thing could do a lot of damage if it rolled off its platform. Would exhibit visitors walk around in a vacuum with space suits on, or some simulacrum thereof?
Rick O
Looks like the last city and the traveler in Destiny 2.
"Guardian? Eyes up Guardian!"
NMBill
To my knowledge, the only way to simulate lunar gravity on earth is through a system of ropes, levers and counterbalances. Not much of an experience if that's the case. With a little thought and experimentation, you could set up a similar experience in your back yard.
drzarkov99
The Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama used to have a Lunar/Mars experience, with cables and counterbalances that could be adjusted to simulate the one sixth gravity of the Moon, or the one third gravity of Mars, and even though it was NASA-sponsored, it certainly didn't cost billions of dollars. They also had a centrifuge that could let up to 20 people at a time experience 2G and 4G acceleration. There was also a mockup of the Shuttle cockpit that the adventurers could sit in and experience a simulated Shuttle flight.