Oluna

Oluna is a term used primarily in speculative fiction, design exercises, and branding to denote a hypothetical lunar habitat and its surrounding infrastructure. There is no single real-world project officially named Oluna, and the term does not refer to a widely recognized organization.

Etymology: The word oluna appears to be a portmanteau derived from the Latin-based word luna (the Moon), with an added prefix or syllable that softens its usage in English and other languages. It evokes lunar imagery without prescribing a specific culture or language.

Concept and design: In fictional settings, oluna describes a distributed network of modular habitats located at or near the lunar poles, chosen for access to cold traps and water ice. The concept emphasizes autonomous construction using in-situ resources, closed-loop life support, radiation shielding, and surface-to-orbit transport links. Typical configurations include surface modules supported by reflectors or solar arrays, with robotic assembly and 3D-printed structural components. In some prompts, oluna also encompasses governance models, resource logistics, and psychological considerations for crews living in small, semi-isolated communities.

Usage in discourse: The term is used as a generic archetype in worldbuilding prompts, policy simulations, and speculative design challenges seeking to explore sustainable lunar living without tying to a specific real project.

See also: Moon, La Luna, Lunar habitat, In-situ resource utilization, Space colonization.