Italian Startup iSaisei Unveils 'Oxygen' Modular Habitat for Sustainable Lunar Living

Based in the heart of Reggio Calabria, the Italian startup iSaisei Corporation is making significant strides in extraterrestrial architecture with its ambitious 'Oxygen' project. Established in 2022, the company is dedicated to constructing a modular residential complex specifically designed to support a permanent and sustainable human presence on the lunar surface. By focusing on the democratization of lunar infrastructure, iSaisei aims to make space-based facilities accessible to private operators alongside traditional government agencies. This inclusive approach is intended to catalyze the growth of a robust lunar economy, moving beyond simple exploration toward long-term habitation and commercial viability.

The defining characteristic of the Oxygen project lies in its innovative hybrid architecture, which utilizes an advanced expandable volume system. This engineering breakthrough allows the module to remain remarkably compact during the high-stress launch phase, only to significantly increase its habitable area once it has been successfully deployed on the Moon. In comparison to traditional rigid modules of the same launch mass, this technology can potentially quadruple the available living space for astronauts. Under the leadership of CEO Gabriele Carrozza, the development team integrates sophisticated engineering with artificial intelligence to manage long-duration crew stays. This AI integration is vital, as it enables the autonomous, real-time regulation of life-support parameters, ensuring the habitat remains a safe haven for its occupants while maximizing resource efficiency.

The industry's recognition of this groundbreaking work culminated in December 2025, when the project was honored with the 'Moon Market Annual Award' by the Moon Village Association. This prestigious accolade was presented in Turin during the 10th CEAS Space Conference, an event held in conjunction with the 9th Annual Moon Village Workshop and Symposium on December 3-4, 2025. Such an endorsement highlights the strategic value of iSaisei’s multi-layered structural approach, which combines flexibility with durability. The design features a specialized external shield engineered to protect inhabitants from the harsh realities of the lunar environment, including high-velocity micrometeorite impacts and dangerous levels of cosmic radiation.

This initiative is perfectly timed with the rapid expansion of the space habitat sector, which is projected to reach a market value of 4.49 billion dollars by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 19.1%. Within this burgeoning market, modular and inflatable structures that facilitate efficient, compact launches are becoming the primary industry trend. iSaisei Corporation has set a rigorous roadmap to capitalize on this momentum, with plans to complete a full-scale physical mockup of the Oxygen module by 2026. Gabriele Carrozza has stated that the ultimate objective is to have the first functional Oxygen habitat ready for lunar deployment by 2030, providing a stable and secure environment for an initial crew of four pioneers to live and work on the lunar frontier.