  A tensegrity tower design to support a given payload for the moon mining
operation is proposed in this paper. A non-linear optimization problem for the
minimal-mass structure design is posed and solved, subject to the yielding
constraints for strings and yielding and buckling constraints for bars in the
presence of lunar gravity. The optimization variables for this non-linear
problem are structural complexity and pre-stress in the strings. Apart from
local failure constraints of yielding and buckling, global buckling is also
considered. The structure designed as a deployable tower is a TnD1 tensegrity
structure. A case study demonstrates the feasibility and advantage of the tower
design. The principles developed in this paper are also applicable for building
other structures on the Earth or other planets.
