The space suits used by Apollo astronauts on their lunar surface EVAs provided them with a self contained life support system that protected them against all of these dangers.

The temperature at the surface of the Moon ranges from 280 degrees (138 degrees C) as the sun reaches its highest point in the sky to 243 below zero (-153 degrees C) during the lunar night cycle. The Apollo missions were planned to coincide with the early morning portion of the lunar day, when the sun was at relatively low angles in the sky. This way, they avoided the high temperature extremes. Any equipment designed to remain on the surface for extended periods of time, would have to deal with the enormous temperature swings which can be more than 500 degrees Fahrenheit (almost 300 degrees C) – not a trivial engineering challenge.

Since the Moon has no magnetic field, it is subjected to a steady flux of galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) and low energy solar wind particles. The radiation levels are normally low enough (on the order of 1 to 2.5 particles per square cm per second) that people can carry on surface activities without any protection beyond what is offered by the space suits. However, during periods of high solar activity, it sometimes happens that the Sun ejects high energy particles and radiation in the direction of the Moon that can be lethal to anyone on the surface within just a few minutes of exposure.

Solar protons pose a significant risk to inadequately shielded crewmembers. Very large energetic particle events, which can cause acute radiation effects, occur at intervals of 7 to 10 years. Intermediate events, which can limit mission activities, occur several times each year. For nominal flares, build-up to peak radiation intensity occurs within a few hours or less. Monitoring of X-ray precursors may provide 30 minutes to one hour of additional warning.

Micrometeorites can hit the Moon at speeds up to 100,000 Km per hour. Even a small particle the size of a grain of sand could puncture a space suit or the Apollo Lunar modules and cause enormous damage. Fortunately, these events are statistically rare.

However, for long duration missions, there is a non-zero probability that the lunar habitat may get hit by one of these high energy micrometeorites. Therefore, it is necessary to provide some method of shielding. This can be done with just a few inches of regolith.

The hard vacuum on the surface of the Moon (about 2 orders of magnitude fewer particles per unit volume than low Earth orbit) also creates some problems. Many common plastics and rubber substances loose flexibility and become brittle due to outgassing in hard vacuum environments.

Lunar dust may prove to be the most challenging and daunting of all the hazards facing future lunar explorers. Lunar dust is extremely fine, and extremely abrasive to machines, bearings, seals, etc. It is also pervasive. There is no where one can go to get away from lunar dust. As if that were not enough, the small size of the dust particles and their jagged nature makes them a serious health hazard to humans. Breathing in these particles is very likely to cause silicosis, lung cancer, and severe allergic reactions.