moon_camp

Moon Camp Explorers Gallery 2021-2022

In Moon Camp Explorers each team’s mission is to 3D design a complete Moon Camp using Tinkercad. They also have to explain how they will use local resources, protect astronauts from the dangerous of space and describe the living and working facilities.

Team: James Webb

International School of Toulouse  Colomiers    France 12   2 / 0

External link for 3d

Project description

Our project’s name is James Webb. We were inspired by the NASA James Webb telescope mission, launched in 2021. The James Webb Lunar camp has plans to live on the moon and acquire water, food and oxygen sustainably. Our base consists of a landing platform, quantum energy generator and a rover used for exploring the lunar terrain. It will also consist of 11 sections: a water and air recycling facility which work in conjunction; food storage; communications; 3 sleeping rooms for 1 astronaut each; a hydroponics facility; a garage, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a gym. as well as an observatory. We made our base close to the lunar poles, on the south side, so that we could observe the moon easily and have some sunlight coming in. Having sunlight and visibility will improve the physical and mental health of our astronauts. 

Where do you want to build your Moon Camp?

Close to the lunar poles

Why did you choose this location?

We are going to place our base on the Lunar Poles. This proximity will allow us to access the record amounts of ice in the crater, and melt them for treatment and use. Thanks to the perpendicular spin axis of the moon, there is also constant light shining on the horizon at the poles. It will shine on the poles all year round, regardless of the orbit. This light will be used for electricity, generated by solar panels. Doses of vitamin D provided by the sun and consistent light sources will also benefit the mental status of our astronauts and improve quality of life.

How do you plan to build your Mooncamp? Which materials will you use?

The architecture of our Moon Camp is based on layers of materials which provide insulation, radioactive protection, physical protection and magnetism. For the insulation of the base we are going to use a layer of aerogel, which is an excellent insulator for keeping heat in. For protection we are going to use titanium (which will be the first layer outside), which is extremely lightweight and strong. For radioactive protection we will use high-z steel, which blocks radiation (gamma and x-ray) very well. As the moon has gamma waves, thus producing gamma radiation, the metal can serve as protection to our astronauts. Iron will be used for magnetic boots.

Water
Food
Electricity
Air
Protection

We will produce water by recycling urine using the still apparatus (with the condenser being shorter and colder to increase speed). The urine will be filtered and treated after distillation in order to ensure hygenity. We will also be melting ice from the lunar south poles (where our base is) but as this will be limited, we shall sample a piece of ice on a monthly basis for experimental documentation.

For food we shall use a Hydroponics chamber, which passes a nutrient solution (also mixed with faeces from the toilet) and pumps the solution around the piping system. The plant’s roots will be in the solution and will be held in place by rubber balls. We will grow broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes, turnips, and pumpkin, snap peas, green beans and asparagus on a tri-yearly rotation in order to ensure variety in the astronaut’s diet and a full range of nutrients. For extra nutrition for the plants we will use artificial light for photosynthesis, because the moon’s light can get extremely powerful.

Power will be produced by solar panels and quantum energy generators. The reactors will be underground in a protective chamber to avoid any igniting substance setting it off. The solar panels will have a voltage check every ten seconds for damage control as well as a quantum energy generator, which uses atoms and subatomic particles to generate energy.

Breathable air will be produced by electrolysis of water, but it does produce pure oxygen so we will use the hydrogen for the rocket fuel. We will separate the hydrogen into two equal parts, one for the mixture for air. Then the air will be ventilated through the Moon Camp and the carbon dioxide breathed out by astronauts will be recycled by the plants and the air generator will get water every two days.

For protection we are going to use titanium (the titanium will be the outer layer of the base), which is extremely lightweight and strong. For radioactive protection we will use high-z steel which can block radioactive waves to the size of an x-ray wave. To prevent any illness, we will treat the water (for bacteria) and will sanitise the base. If any astronaut has any signs of illness then they will be in quarantine for a week.

Describe a day on the Moon for one of your Moon Camp astronauts

The astronauts will get out of bed at 6am by detaching themselves from their beds, then they will go to the bathroom to have a shower and brush their teeth. All astronauts will go and check the filtration systems for supplies of water and oxygen that have no damage or leaks. Then they go and have breakfast in the kitchen dome, eating together on one table to limit the space used and taking turns to make the meal (on a daily basis). After, they need to go and check the hydroponics chamber in case of any leaks or blockages, check the pumping system, and resupply the reservoir every two days. Then they have to go to the control room to activate the voltage check for the solar panels. If there is any low voltage production then they need to put on their space suits and locate the damaged solar panel and fix it. Later after lunch they need to put back on the space suit, go through the airlock and clean any large pieces of debris off the solar panels.Then if they need to, they go to the water closets which are spread across the whole base. Then they activate the rover to check the radiation levels and to do other activities. Then they go to the hydroponics chamber to harvest some food for dinner. Then they go to their chambers and take care of hygiene, then they strap themselves in for the night.

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