Moon Camp Explorers 2021 – 2022
For more projects visit the Moon Camp Explorers project gallery.
The Moon Camp Challenge invites students to become Moon explorers and decode some of the complexities future astronauts may face.
In the future, to enable astronauts to stay on the Moon for long periods of time, new infrastructures must be developed to overcome important challenges. Such challenges include protection from radiation and meteorites, energy production, the extraction and recycling of water, food production and much more.
In Moon Camp Explorers each team’s mission is to design a 3D Moon Camp able to sustain at least 2 astronauts and keep them safe from the hazards and vacuum of space. Teams will also have to submit a report about their project.
OverviewTeams will develop a number of interdisciplinary scientific experiments to explore the extreme environment of space and understand how astronauts could live on the Moon. Afterwards they will 3D design their Moon Camp using Tinkercad and write a report explaining their project.
Their design should be adapted to the Moon environment and make use of local resources and provide protection and/or living and working facilities for the astronauts. Participating teams will compete for the Moon Camp Explorers prize for best project.
Use of local resources (e.g. lunar soil, water ice)
Technological solutions (e.g. power source, recycling system, food growth chamber)
Protection (from meteorites and radiation)
Living and working facilities for at least 2 astronauts.
Registrations for the challenge are open from 15 September 2021 to 21 April 2022.
To participate in Moon Camp Explorers, teams should be comprised of 2 to 6 students and must be supported by a teacher or educator. The project must be submitted by the teacher or educator.
Participation in Moon Camp Explorers is open worldwide* to teams of students aged up to (and including) 14 years old.
Teams that participated in Moon Camp Discovery are also allowed to submit a project to Moon Camp Explorers.
There is no limit to the number of teams a school or club can enter, but each student can only enter one team, and each team can submit one entry only.
* Moon Camp Challenge is open worldwide. In the framework of the current collaboration agreement between ESA and Airbus Foundation, if you apply from an ESA Member State*, Slovenia, Canada, Lithuania or Latvia your team will have to fulfil the following extra conditions:
• At least 50% of team members must be citizens of an ESA Member State, Slovenia, Canada, Lithuania or Latvia.
• Each team member must be:
‒ Enrolled in a full time primary or secondary school located in an ESA Member State, Slovenia or Canada, Lithuania or Latvia
‒ or, be home-schooled (certified by the National Ministry of Education or delegated authority in an ESA Member State, Slovenia, Canada, Lithuania or Latvia)
‒ or, be a member of a club or after-school group, such as Science Club, Scouts or the like.
* ESA Member States in 2021: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
A jury composed of ESA, Airbus Foundation and Autodesk experts will select the winning teams based on the quality of the design and report submitted. The design should be adapted to and feasible for the lunar environment, making use of natural features. The report must explain the design choices and overall habitability and functionality of the Moon camp. The teams should include their scientific reasoning for the choices presented.
Innovation, creativity and inventiveness (25%): How well does this new design “push the envelope” and enhance user experience?
Software skills (25%): How well does the student design demonstrate technical skills and quality of design based on technical requirements?
Suitability to purpose (25%): How well does the design prove useful and suited to serving its purpose of providing a functional Moon Camp?
Online Form (25%): How well does the report explain the reasoning for design choices and overall habitability of the Moon camp?
How to submit the project?1. The team’s 3D model must be created exclusively using Autodesk® Tinkercad™. Submissions created in other software programs will not be accepted.
2. Projects must be submitted to the Moon Camp online platform: online platform. The deadline is 21 April 2022.
3. By submitting the project, the participants agree that their project will be shared on the Moon Camp platform. Participants accept that ESA Education and partners have the right to use the entirety or parts of the project for outreach and education purposes.
4. Submissions must include:
the team’s report explaining the project and design, written in English. The report should follow the provided template;
at least one screen capture of the 3D model as a .JPG or .PNG;
the public link to the Tinkercad project, with an Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 (CC-BY-SA 3.0) license.
5. Each team must model all individual components of the design. It is not permitted to import existing CAD data into the design, with the exception of any files provided by Autodesk, ESA, or Airbus Foundation.
6. The team must be the sole author/owner of the project and all materials submitted to the Moon Camp Challenge. Projects sponsored or funded by third parties may not be used. No third party (including your school or project sponsors) should have any rights to materials you submit.
7. ESA and Airbus Foundation, at their sole discretion, reserve the right to disqualify submissions that do not follow the guidelines, or that contain messages that are deemed inappropriate or inadequate for the audience.
If your team is joining the Moon Camp Explorers you will have to create your 3D Design using Autodesk Tinkercad. Tinkercad is a free, easy-to-use web-based app for 3D design.
Are you new to 3D Design? Do not worry; start learning 3D design following the step-by-step tutorials below.
For any questions, consult the FAQ section or send an email to moon.camp@esa.int
Registrations will be open from 15 September 2021 until 21 April 2022. Participation is open worldwide to teams of students aged up to (and including) 14 years old. Teams must be comprised of a minimum of 2 up to a maximum of 6 students and must be supported by a teacher/ educator.
Explorers, Guidelines
Consult here the template you have to complete for your report.
Explorers, Guidelines
Create an account and learn how to do the first steps in Tinkercad, as well as how to work remotely.
3D design - Tinkercad
If you finished your design, follow these steps to share your project link with us.
3D design - Tinkercad
Learn the basic functions of the Autodesk Tinkercad 3D design software and begin to design your very own Moon Camp.
3D design - Tinkercad
Learn how to set up a classroom for students In this step-by-step introduction to Autodesk Tinkercad Classrooms, and how to share finished design with others.
3D design - Tinkercad
Learn how to use the basic functions of the Autodesk Tinkercad Codeblocks software to design an Ariane 6 model.
3D design - Tinkercad
Learn to work with 3D design functions step-by-step.
3D design - Tinkercad
Learn to design the astronauts quarters in Tinkercad.
3D design - Tinkercad
Travelling to the Moon will not be an easy task. On the Moon you cannot open your parachute. Learn to design a lunar lander in Tinkercad following this tutorial.
3D design - Tinkercad
Cars on the Moon will be different, there are no roads or fuel stations. Follow this tutorial to learn how to design a rover to support your space exploration mission.
3D design - Tinkercad, Explorers, Multimedia
To complete your Moon mission you will have to have an astronaut suit. Start your design with a space helmet.
3D design - Tinkercad
This tutorial demonstrates how to design a satellite.
3D design - Tinkercad
Follow up this video tutorial to get inspiration to create your own astronauts quarters, using Tinkercad Codeblocks.
3D design - Tinkercad
How will your astronauts exercise in space? Learn to design a dressing room for your Moon Camp gym following this video step-by-step tutorial, using Tinkercad.
3D design - Tinkercad
Can astronauts run in space? Learn to design a space treadmill following this video step-by-step tutorial.
3D design - Tinkercad
Ready for take off? Learn how to code a 3D Ariane 6 model with Tinkercad Codeblocks and design your own rocket that takes off for lunar exploration.
3D design - Tinkercad
How should the astronaut suit for future Moon missions look like? Watch this step-by-step Tinkercad video tutorial to learn how to design the space suit of our favourite space traveller Paxi.
3D design - Tinkercad
Follow the series of steps in this tutorial to design a housing pod for your space exploration mission.
3D design - Tinkercad
To get to the Moon you will need a space rocket. Follow this tutorial to design a rocket fit for your space exploration mission.
3D design - Tinkercad
This tutorial demonstrates how to design an oxygen tank to make your space exploration mission possible.
3D design - Tinkercad
Following the steps of this tutorial you learn how to design a rover to support your space exploration mission.
3D design - Tinkercad
Science | In this resource, pupils will spend a day recording how much water they use for different activities. This is followed by an experimental activity in the classroom, where they will use pre-prepared “lunar ice cores” and filter these to get water.
Classroom Resources
Science | In this activity, pupils will build a bionic hand made out of cardboard, strings, straws and rubber bands. They will relate the bionic hand to their own hand to understand the function of the fingers and the importance of the thumb, to grab or hold objects with different shapes and forms.
Classroom Resources
Science | In this activity, students will learn how their arm works and build a robotic arm inspired on it. Students will understand the different functions of bones and muscles. They will build and test a model robotic arm and understand why a robotic arm is a very important tool in space.
Classroom Resources
Science | In this activity, students will compare the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy sources and non-renewable energy sources and study simple electrical circuits. Using the Moon as context students will build a small Moon rover powered by solar energy, using a small motor and a solar cell.
Classroom Resources
Science | In this set of activities pupils will analyse the importance of having shelter for protection on Earth and in space. Pupils will compare the environmental conditions on Earth and on the Moon and in a group they will imagine and build their own Moon shelter using materials comparable to the soil on the Moon, known as Moon analogues.
Classroom Resources
Science | This activity will introduce students to logical thinking by planning, testing and executing a simple mission on the Moon. Students will work in pairs and take it in turns to play the roles of “mission controller” and “rover”.
Classroom Resources
Science | In this resource, pupils will debate some organisational and social characteristics of a future settlement on the Moon and relate it to their local community. The students will be guided through the activity using a set of debate questions, to which the students can respond with their opinions on whether they agree or not using a smiley or sad card.
Classroom Resources
Science | In this set of activities, students will learn about the different components of plants. They will learn which parts of well-known plants are edible and learn the difference between a vegetable, a fruit and a seed. The students will have to imagine and draw the plant associated with the fruit/vegetable/seed they are observing.
Classroom Resources
Science | In this set of six activities, students will investigate which factors affect plant growth, and relate these factors to growing plants in space. Students will learn that plants need air, light, water, nutrients and a stable temperature to grow. Students will observe what happens to plants when they vary some of these factors.
Classroom Resources
Science | In this set of activities students will build an understanding of germination and plant growth by following the development of three unknown plants for 12 weeks. They will conduct measurements and make observations to evaluate their plants’ growth and health. Students will use their observations to make a hypothesis about which species of plants they are growing and discuss whether these plants are suitable for growing on long duration space missions.
Classroom Resources
Biology | In this activity students will consider whether life found in extreme environments on Earth could survive elsewhere in the Solar System.
Classroom Resources
Biology | In this set of experimental activities, students will investigate the survival abilities of tardigrades also known as water bears.
Classroom Resources
Physics | In this set of activities, students will learn about two concepts that influence solar panel design for space missions: the inverse square law and the angle of incidence.
Classroom Resources
Physics | In this set of 3 activities students will design and build their own paper rockets and launch them.
Physics | In this set of activities, students will plan, design, and build a landing module to secure the survival of the crew (in the form of an egg-naut) landing on the Moon.
Classroom Resources
Chemistry | In this set of three activities, students will learn about electrochemistry. In the first activity they will build a Volta Pile – a simple battery.
Classroom Resources
Chemistry | In this resource, students will learn about changes of state of matter using water on the Moon as an example.
Classroom Resources
ESA - European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer invites students all over the world to participate in the Moon Camp Challenge and design their own Moon settlement with a 3D modelling tool (Tinkercad or Fusion 360). Moon Camp is an education project run in collaboration between ESA and the Airbus Foundation, in partnership with Autodesk and it is open to students up to 18 years old.
Meet the experts
It’s common knowledge that the Moon is a cratered ball of rock. Stunning as it is in the night sky or in photographs taken from orbit the landscape is barren, grey, dusty and dark. Are there other things to be found than meets the eye? Moon scientist Alexandre Meurisse explains which resources can be found on the Moon. This video has subtitles in English, and it can be auto translated to multiple languages.
Meet the experts
We can 3D print just about anything these days, from tools and buildings to cells and even food. But that’s on Earth, where materials are readily available. What about in space or on the Moon? Could we 3D print a lunar base? ESA engineer Advenit Makaya walks us through the process. This video has subtitles in English, and it can be auto translated to multiple languages.
Meet the experts
The Apollo Mission proved humans can work on the lunar surface but the longest lunar spacewalk lasted a total of 22 hours. Could humans spend longer amounts of time on the Moon? How about live there, as they do on the International Space Station? Lunar technology expert Bérengère Houdou describes living on the Moon. This video has subtitles in English, and it can be auto translated to multiple languages.
Meet the experts
Though it has been fifty years since humans first stepped on the Moon, we haven’t forgotten about Earth’s natural satellite. Several missions since Apollo have taught us so much about the Moon and have paved the way for humankind to return. ESA Moon scientist James Carpenter gives us an overview of these missions and future exploration of the Moon. This video has subtitles in English, and it can be auto translated to multiple languages.
Meet the experts
ESA astronauts Samantha Cristoforetti and Luca Parmitano join the 2019/20 Moon Camp Challenge winning teams for a 1-hour webinar. Connecting from all over the world, the teams have their questions answered live by the ESA astronauts.
Meet the experts
The teams behind the 12 winning projects of the Moon Camp Challenge 2018-2019 were invited to participate in a live webinar with European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake
Meet the experts
Mark Chester, Autodesk Academic Partner and 3D Design Expert, will show how to use 3D modelling software to help you design your camp on the Moon. One single webinar will be provided for teachers and teams applying to Moon Camp’s
Meet the experts
James Carpenter, from ESA’s Human and Robotics Exploration Directorate, working in areas focussing on space exploration, will give an overview of the lunar exploration efforts that have been done so far and discuss why space agencies believe returning to the Moon is the next stepping stone in space exploration.
Meet the experts
Join Paxi as he explores the Moon. In this video, targeted at children aged between 6 and 12, Paxi explains the Moon's phases and eclipses. The adventures of Paxi are also available in the following languages: ?? https://youtu.be/C3CoOgHxsAk ?? https://youtu.be/G9AbC5KlIPA ?? https://youtu.be/rq_GaHAz8F4 ?? https://youtu.be/eFg6n4WLDho ?? https://youtu.be/HPFXqqe971I ?? https://youtu.be/RuTuefZC45Q ?? https://youtu.be/Fv56Nk2kpqU ?? https://youtu.be/K9BJfsgIMcE ?? https://youtu.be/K_KqWr4oHmA ?? https://youtu.be/i7Zq545gMOo ?? https://youtu.be/X-o9PmbDNzA ?? https://youtu.be/MjJxaCBjUQ4 ?? https://youtu.be/CGlZiLBGruo
Moon Videos
In this video, targeted at children aged between 6 and 12 years, Paxi explores what humans need to live on the Moon. The adventures of Paxi are also available in the following languages: ?? https://youtu.be/x9MqiQoIzJc ?? https://youtu.be/nhElPPLwW5M ?? https://youtu.be/8popaYvkhb4 ?? https://youtu.be/LobWAO6a-Hk ?? https://youtu.be/xzeL-TZz_Qg ?? https://youtu.be/DaAUE1R9pn4 ?? https://youtu.be/pdOzAzA6SfQ ?? https://youtu.be/GzRdVAbJaDQ ?? https://youtu.be/DYdAR2F7KTY ?? https://youtu.be/W2Y2RMEacDQ ?? https://youtu.be/2jVsuVZbez8 ?? https://youtu.be/xd1a0BHZ2uo ?? https://youtu.be/_rpxtATdMvE
Moon Videos
How exactly does a rocket engine work? Learn about different factors that affect your space launch and how to design an aerodynamic rocket to the moon.
Moon Videos
Flying to the moon is tricky business, especially since you can’t just head in a direct line. How can you plan your trajectory to the moon? This animation has subtitles in Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish.
Moon Videos
A manned spacecraft needs a soft landing, but it’s all in the timing. Fire up your thrusters and hope you’ve picked the right spot to touch down. This animation has subtitles in Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish.
Moon Videos
An entirely new landscape awaits when you land on the Moon. Will you choose one of the poles or dig underground – where will your Moon village be? This animation has subtitles in Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish.
Moon Videos
Just one year on the moon maxes out the amount of solar radiation we can handle over a lifetime. What’s the best sunscreen for moon life? This animation has subtitles in Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish.
Moon Videos
A lunar day lasts for 14 Earth days, but night can be just as long. Is solar energy our best bet for powering the Moon base? And how do we make it last? This animation has subtitles in Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish.
Moon Videos
About 180 craters appear on the Moon every year, not to mention being hit by golf ball-sized meteors all year long. How do we stay protected? This animation has subtitles in Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish.
Moon Videos
The first Moon structure has a lot of roles to fill: a home base not only for sleeping and eating but for research and experiments, too. This animation has subtitles in Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish.
Moon Videos
When you think of building, you probably think of bricks – but Moon rock is an entirely different material. So what’s the best way to build on the Moon? This animation has subtitles in Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish.
Moon Videos
Holding our breath isn’t an option on the Moon, we need sources of oxygen to sustain life. Let’s start by importing some plants to help us breathe easy. This animation has subtitles in Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish.
Moon Videos
There are only so many groceries you can bring to the Moon, so how do you produce food in a place with no air? Here’s now to cultivate lunar food sources. This animation has subtitles in Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish.
Moon Videos
One Earthling’s trash is another astronaut’s treasure. We can turn waste products into valuable sources of heat and fuel, and recycled materials. This animation has subtitles in Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish.
Moon Videos
Since the Moon is as dry as Earth’s driest desert, we’ll have to bring water with us. The water recycling system used on the ISS can help our supply last. This animation has subtitles in Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish.
Moon Videos
The aim of the Moon mission is to research how to live on other planets. That means not only experimenting on the environment – but also on ourselves! This animation has subtitles in Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish.
Moon Videos
Getting stuff done on the moon requires more effort than what the first settlers can manage by themselves. Robots to the rescue! This animation has subtitles in Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish.
Moon Videos
Top tips for an unforgettable Moon adventure include impact craters housing ancient organisms from the days of the universe’s creation. This animation has subtitles in Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish.
Moon Videos
How best to travel on the moon with rocks, boulders and craters in our way? And when settlements expand, what will our lunar infrastructure look like? This animation has subtitles in Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish.
Moon Videos
Even daily communication changes when living on the Moon. Without air to carry our voices, we might rely on lasers to beam our message home. This animation has subtitles in Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish.
Moon Videos
Can you imagine how would it be to live on the Moon? See how, in the future, a day in the life of an astronaut could be. This animation has subtitles in Arabic, Chinese (China), Chinese (Taiwan), Dutch, English, French, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese.
Moon Videos
What does it take to send astronauts into space? Learn how the European Service Module (ESM) Airbus built for the European Space Agency & NASA will power the Orion mission, providing electricity, water, oxygen and nitrogen to keep the spacecraft ship shape.
Moon Videos
Winne tells us all about preparing for a trip to the Moon in this video.
Moon Videos
Developing the safest and most efficient way to return to the Moon starts on Earth. European astronauts and spacewalk experts are preparing for the future of Moon exploration with electronic aids, upgraded geological tools from the Apollo era and improved scientific protocols.
Moon Videos
Al Worden, Command Module Pilot for the Apollo 15 mission talks about the US space programme during the space race and the future of lunar exploration.
Moon Videos
This film gives an overview of the past, present, and future of Moon exploration, from the Lunar cataclysm to ESA’s vision of what Lunar exploration could be. This video has subtitles in English, and it can be auto translated to multiple languages.
Moon Videos
Could astronauts one day be printing rather than building a base on the Moon?
Moon Videos
Find more information about the Moon in this collection of educational material.
Multimedia
Satisfy your curiosity, learn and be inspired. Create your own journey through the web documentary to master the why and how of lunar exploration.
Multimedia
Have fun and learn about the Moon by playing the Moon web games.
Multimedia
