This moon camp is not purely built upon scientific research, but on humanities achievements in the final frontier. We thrive because we are innovative and are always adapting, so I based the Lunar Tower on commemorates our drive as a species to reach for the stars. The tower itself is over 1930m tall built by robots, specifically programmed to gradually move higher with the construction of the building, requiring little human supervision or work. The tower also provides an ideal spot for the telescope, which allows scientists to study areas of the galaxy which are at a greater distance. Furthermore, the tower is home to the satellite dish which allows for better communications to Earth, but also is used for wireless power transmission, receiving power from orbiting satellites. Because of the tower’s height, weapons are deployed to obliterate any large asteroids or debris that could harm the tower.

The Luna Tower accommodates the people who live on the base. It is designed to be self-sufficient, and to contain all the requirements for the people who live there. Moreover, the well-being of the astronauts is also key, as if the community is to be entirely sustainable, the people who live there ought to want to stay, not from a morale duty, but because of the same attachment a person would with their home. The Lunar Tower, has doctors, several clubs and classes, a school, a gym, recreation facilities a pool, sport pitches and a greenhouse in which they can walk around.

Shackleton crater

The Shackleton crater is an ideal location for the camp. The almost continuous sunlight on the rim, would allow the solar technology to harness the full power of the sun giving an extremely efficient power source. Furthermore, the pockets of ice within the crater will allow the robots to harvest the ice without travelling outside the crater’s surface. The constant shade within the crater will also create a protection from harsh weathers and fluctuating temperatures. This would mean that the technology and buildings can be specifically designed for one temperature, opposed to extremes that may occur on more exposed areas.

The robots mine for the moon dust, rich in metals, and delivers it to a processing chamber, where it is crushed up into fragments. Then it is vacuumed up a pipe and fused onto the aluminium skeleton of the building with a robotic arm. The wheel positioned in the centre of the robot then continues to climb the tower at the rate of the fusion.  The dome is made of ETFE membrane to be able to fully capture the effects of photosynthesis, whilst maintaining a set temperature and being easily transportable due to its lightweight quality.

Water is mined by the quadruped robots from the ice beneath Shackleton Crater. The quadrupeds are designed and programmed to be able to descend and ascend at high angles and travel across the uneven terrain with ease. Once the ice has been mined by the robots, they return it to the distiller. The water is then heated from the sun rays as the distiller is poised on the edge od the crater. As the water evaporates from the boiling sphere, harmful moon rock is left behind. The water is finally condensed before going to the Lunar Tower.

The ETFE dome is used predominantly for the agriculture of the lunar base. Aquaponics is the main source of produce; however, drought resistant crops are also used. The fish eggs are transported from Earth to the aquaponics system. They are then bought and released into nursing tanks, before being brought into the main aquaponics tanks. The fish are usually carp genetically enhanced for the aquaponics environment.

There are three main sources of power contributing to the Moon Camp, save from individual or small projects. The first and possibly the greatest source of power is solar. Numerous solar farms scatter the rim and outside the crater to fully take advantage of the 80%of the time the sun is shining. The second source is the wireless power transmission from orbiting satellites sent to the antenna upon the Lunar Tower. Thirdly is the recreational source of power generated from the exercise of the inhabitants of the Lunar Tower.

Compressed oxygen cylinders transport the air to the moon. Once this is completed the air supply on the Lunar Tower is entirely self-sufficient. The araca palms and numerous other species of plant housed in the ETFE dome produce oxygen which is the transported across the facility in tubes. The air is then either packaged for missions beyond the camp or simply circulated into rooms within the Tower and Camp itself.

I entered the vacuum lift which shot upwards making my surroundings but a blur. Outside the glass of the tower allowed me to survey the barren but beautiful landscape of the moon. Finally, the lift pinged, and several people and I marched out onto the bay. It was a circular dome like room with at least a hundred people rapidly typing away ensuring the entire base is running smoothly. Gradually rotating around the dome was the astronomy dish and telescope. A white marble staircase spiralled upwards onto another deck where numerous astronomers were studying the stars and then hurrying of to record them.

Then I set of down the lift again, after having sent signals to Earth and delivered numerous messages to numerous people. At a brisk walk I set of to the ETFE dome, where I helped water the diverse species of plants, and harvest the ones in which had ripened.

I set of again to the canteen where I enjoyed a meal. All the food had been grown in the ETFE dome, and despite the small selection it tasted fresh and was extremely nutritious. After lunch, I entered the gymnasium where I ran on the treadmill, in which harnessed and transferred the energy into electricity for the camp.

Then I watched the Earth set into the horizon before retiring into my sleeping quarters and the robotically programmed lights automatically switched off.