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.
Πειραματικό Σχολείο Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλονίκης Thessaloniki-Νομός ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΗΣ Greece 14 0 / 3 English
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16Ou1i-fZDS-dwzjXyFj8hJuzkbGozrG7/view?usp=share_link
In our paper we present a hypothetical base of three astronauts on the moon with the help of 3D design and Tinkercad Software. Our base at Moon Camp is called “Mission Possible” and is located on the surface of the Copernicus Crater.The main objective is to study the environment and living conditions on the Moon, to conclude whether there is a possibility of colonization. The first section will be the control-monitoring tower. The hypothetical base will also include a storage of water and oxygen and an entertainment and exercise area. In addition, it will be composed of a research area for the astronauts, in which there will be state-of-the-art robots that will serve for the smooth operation of the station. The other sections will be the hearths and the dining room, a complex of small greenhouses which will be connected to each other by corridors and an emergency exit. The final part of our work will be a station cleaning system. All areas of the station will be connected to each other by corridors. Our space station will be made of materials that regulate its temperature and prevent the entry of unwanted radiation and cold.
This mission promises to offer the astronauts a unique opportunity to gain first-hand experience in inhabiting and working on an extraterrestrial landscape. New equipment and supplies will undergo rigorous testing under the harsh and demanding conditions of outer space. The objective of our astronauts is to acquire an adeptness in conducting operations with robotic technologies to execute various tasks, in investigating geographically isolated areas as well as in collating crucial information while in perilous conditions. The establishment of a robust lunar presence holds considerable potential for enhancing the quality of life on Earth and for facilitating future exploratory initiatives throughout the solar system.
We plan to build our Moon Camp in Copernicus Crater which is located in the northern hemisphere of the Moon, it has a diameter of 93 km and its lunar coordinates are 9.7 degrees north latitude and 20.0 west longitude. It is 3.8 km deep and is estimated to have formed around 800 million years ago.
In the Copernicus crater refueling will be easier because it is always visible from the earth thanks to the 27-hour rotation of the Moon.
It is considered a bright crater as it is pierced by light rays 800 km wide. It is one of the most famous impact craters on the Moon and According to the scientific data we collected, it can ensure 30% more physical integrity of the crew. It is located far from a volcanic area and the level of toxicity is relatively low. Copernicus is surrounded by an extensive complex of craters which form curved chains in which the astronauts with the help of a rover can take refuge in case of need.
The installation location of the greenhouses is designed according to the complete lunar rotation and the sun! The base will be made of aluminum alloys (material resistant to pressure, corrosion, extreme effects) while the rest of the structure will be made of transparent aluminum alloys with a small layer of solid polycarbonate (for additional shielding)! Finally, a “cover” of solid aluminum that will surround the greenhouse with the command of the A.I system in case of emergency! Rain-moisture and heating transformers (creating machines) will also be used!
From the moon we will only get renewable energy sources such as the sun.
The aluminum alloys, the polycarbonate material etc. will be supplied from the earth as we do not know the exact quality of the soil. As a result, we are unable to create a new soil composition with the purpose of using it. We believe that the earth can withstand the production of this huge amount of materials both economically and productively. In addition, we still do not have the knowledge about the creation of “lunar materials”, maybe this will be a later study of our space team in the moon.
The control tower of our Moon Camp will protect the astronauts. It will locate any meteorites that move towards the moon and might threaten our base and will inform the astronauts in order to evacuate the base well in advance. The special sensor on top of the control tower will detect any radioactive or toxic gasses that might exist in the atmosphere at high levels and might be dangerous for their health. In this case, the control tower will produce an emergency alarm, so that the astronauts do not exit the station. The Moon Camp is also connected with NASA where they constantly watch the flow of space radiation around it.
In order to avoid the need for resupplying air and water from Earth, the astronauts will bring with them enough oxygen and water to cover their needs during their stay on the moon. These supplies will be stored in the special warehouse that we designed. In case the base runs out of water or oxygen, a unit is foreseen in this warehouse to evaporate ice into steam using solar energy and then condense the steam to water. This unit will also separate out oxygen from the condensed water using electricity.
Transporting food all the way from Earth is impractical so our Moon Camp will produce food locally. To provide food we built greenhouses and adapted them to favor normal plant growth. They are built next to the control center to better absorb the solar energy. Our astronauts will apply two agricultural methods for growing plants: the well-known method and by using microgreens. We applied the cultivation of microgreens because they are small plants of short growth and have low biological and energy requirements.
For power supply we have created photovoltaic panels that convert solar energy into electricity which is used to supply power to our Moon Camp.
Prior to their trip into space, astronauts undergo training that is essential to their safety and survival during their stay in space. Our astronauts will take a variety of science and technology-related classes. In order to feel more at ease during their stay in space, they will also receive training in space suits. Prior to training in flying and extravehicular activities, they will also need to complete survival under the water training. As part of their preparation, astronauts will be placed in the altitude chambers to encounter obstacles connected to high and low atmospheric pressures. By doing this, they learn how to handle emergencies in these extremely dangerous living situations. In addition, our astronauts will experience the condition of microgravity which they will face both inside the spacecraft as well as outside, on a spacewalk. In more detail, they will float in midair for 20 seconds. All astronauts will have a personal trainer who will provide instructions and support them during their training. Thanks to all the above preparation, there will be a lot fewer contingencies than anticipated and the mission will have every reason to be successful.
