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 dangers of space and describe the living and working facilities in their Moon Camp.
European School Den Haag Den Haag-Zuid Holland Netherlands 14 0 / 2 English
Hi, welcome to our Moon Camp project. We wanted to create something both practical and aesthetic, so we settled for the domed buildings and underground structures often used in sci-fi movies. We have everything from a garage to repair and put moon rovers to a warehouse for fuel. On the surface, we tried to keep things simple: energy generators, a landing pad, an entrance to the base, a garage, a warehouse, a satellite dish for Earthwards communication, and excavators for minerals and rocks for construction and testing in the labs. Underground, for maximum protection, we put the astronauts’ living quarters, dining area, lab, and food growth chamber. Being underground is not only easier to manage (no meteorites or radiation, and also is just composed of old and reinforced lava tubes. The buildings on the surface are made of the rock found on the Moon’s surface, and have special reinforced glass that blocks radiation, and allows light to enter.
We think that the Moon it’s an excellent place to test technologies, flight capabilities, life support systems, and exploration of new ways of live. Basically, the astronauts will be doing science.
Close to the lunar poles
We would build our base on a crater rim near the lunar north pole. It’s in near constant sunlight but not too far from probable stores of water ice.
A lot of the building on the surface could most likely be made out of compressed lunar dust. This is a durable, basaltic material found on the moon, most comparable to volcanic powder, or perhaps lunar concrete, which is a mixture of sulphur and aggregate (grains or crushed rock). Underground, the outer ‘shell’ would most likely just be the lava tube, with some concrete to reinforce and provide shape for the rooms.
The main form of protection for the astronauts is the underground section of the base. Here, debri colliding with the Moon will not be a problem. On the surface, however, a thick wall of protection around each building is necessary. Maybe an electricity ‘shield’ or movement guided missile defence system would work for the bigger meteorites, but the smaller ones will be rejected by the strength of the building walls. Monitorising the activity of outer space debri will help, giving the astronauts enough time to prepare for the incoming collision. Vehicles will be sent out in pairs, to provide ‘buddy aid’ in case of need.
Water: frozen ice is the most obvious option as a water source, however, a recycled version of urine (as used on the ISS) is also a perfectly valid option. Though a long process, it can recycle up to 90% of liquid into drinkable water. Perhaps even more than 6,000 extra liters of water can be generated per year.
Food: Besides the occasional large cargo from Earth, most of the food should be independently grown and produced on the base in food growth chambers. If the base gets to a sufficiently advanced phase, perhaps even animals can be brought there, if meat cannot be grown in a laboratory, of course.
Power: The main source of power on the Moon would most likely be solar With a big array of solar panels, a large amount of energy can hopefully be produced. Otherwise, perhaps by the time we get to the Moon, some sort of device will be produced that will be able to capture the energy generated by kinetic movement (e.g. of each individual astronaut, and of each rover).
Air: air is a tricky problem on the Moon. Perhaps at one point we will be able to terraform the Moon, but up to then, the process of electrolysis will have to suffise. This is a process that uses electricity from solar panels to make hydrogen and oxygen out of water.
7:00 A.M. London time: Astronauts wake up, and have time for themselves until 7.30.
7:30 A.M.: All astronauts to report to the dining area. Personal needs will be cared for, and breakfast will be served, as well as a reminder of the day’s activities.
8:15 A.M.: Astronauts will be sent back to their quarters, with 15 minutes to get ready.
8:30 A.M.: Astronauts report for duty at their respective stations. These include: repair and maintenance, laboratory preparations, communication with Earth, etc.
9:00 A.M.: A signal will be sent Earthbound to confirm everything is functional and in order, and that all supplies are stocked.
11:45/12:30: In these two times, astronauts have time to eat lunch. Each time slot is 45 min, and exists to accommodate those who are busy.
5:00 P.M.: The workday finished for everyone/ the shifts change. Exercise somewhere from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. is mandatory.
6:00 P.M.: Dinner is served. One hour is permitted.
9:00 P.M.: All astronauts sign out of their work place and go to their quarters.
Note: exceptional days are days where expeditions are sent out with the rovers, the staff who has different sleeping and eating times, and two days a week where the astronauts and the staff get to call their loved ones back on Earth. Every half a year, astronauts have the chance to go back home, except in exceptional cases, where they remain there by choice, or have a job to finish.
Exceptional note: almost everything (e.g., the tables, the microscope, the electricity towers, the rovers, the buildings) are made by us.
