discovery interactive image

Moon Camp Explorers 2022 – 2023 Project Gallery

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.

The New Moon

International School of Utrecht Utrecht-Utrecht Netherlands 12, 13 0 / 0 English

External link for 3D Design

External URL to the team’s project (e.g. website or PDF):

https://isutrecht-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/g/personal/nishaaz_haque_student_isutrecht_nl/ESqzzZ5xudJMvd-5msZ3peYBS_40-3KA24M1fs9tiK-JLA?e=dkmMtO

Youtube Video Link:

1.1 – Project Description

Our moon camp is called “The New Moon,” since the moon has no actual long-term base, we aspire to establish the first moon camp like this. Our moon base has multiple various parts, which are all interconnected via vacuum tubes to the living hub. All the facilities that are connected to the central living hub are helium 3 gas tanks, satellite dishes, twin observatories, vehicles, water tanks, rocket pads, and a laboratory, and there are tubes to connect the individual structures to the living hub. We have added all these to help astronauts in their long-term missions. The living hub has everything that two mission parties would need such as food, a garden to grow the food, a kitchen, toilets, entertainment for the astronauts, a command centre, and an exercise room. All these areas that are mentioned above are needed for an astronaut’s well-being. Radiation will not be a problem since we are going to use lunar crete to protect against it since it can protect against most of the radiation’s effects. With all this considered we think that this moon camp will be the future of the missions yet to come.

1.2 – Why do your astronaut want to go to the Moon and build a Moon Camp?

Our astronauts want to go to the moon because it is an excellent place for testing technologies, flying capabilities, life support systems, and exploration techniques to reduce risks and boost mission productivity. Because solar power on such a large scale would require a lot of metal, glass, and cement, scaling up enough Earth-based solar power to satisfy all of humanity’s electrical demands would be prohibitively expensive. We can also acquire Helium-3, an uncommon but abundant gas found on the Moon and could be used in sophisticated nuclear fusion reactors. Helium-3 has medical applications, particularly in the diagnosis of various pulmonary diseases. The Moon is a rich location for manufacturers since it contains minerals and oxygen in its rocks and dust, as well as frozen water in specific locations. The Moon could serve as a training ground for colonists before they set up shop on more distant planets such as Mars.

2.1.a – Where do you want to build your Moon Camp?

Shackleton crater

2.2.b – Why did you choose this location?

As one of the reasons, peaks in the lunar poles may have constant daylight in contrast to pits, which may never see the Sun at all and are permanently shaded. Both extremes are present at Shackleton Crater, where parts of the crater rim have nearly year-round sunlight while the crater floor is always dark. It is also one of the only places (except the North Pole) to contain a lot of water in the form of lunar ice, and water is a key fundamental requirement for many purposes in our “New Moon Base.”

2.2 How do you plan to build your Moon Camp? Describe how you can use the Moon’s natural resources, and which materials you would need to bring from Earth.

Potential lunar resources could include consumable substances like volatile substances and minerals as well as natural formations, when paired, could make the moon habitable. We will also be using the lunar create to get metals which will be used to repair and create new vehicles to aid astronauts while exploring. We can also use the rocks and terrain around us to create shelters and bases to protect ourselves from the radiation and hazardous temperatures and terrain of the moon. We will use lunar Crete to create houses and shelters against these harmful conditions but also have self-standing bases to create a fully functional lunar base. When we arrive from Earth, we will have rations and necessities, but we will also bring a drill and an inflatable laboratory. We will also have stands to help set up the moon camp and transportation services. These will aid the astronauts in getting from place to place, and setting up the first camp that will be later developed when we have acquired more materials to make the moon camp.

3.1 – How does your Moon Camp protect and provide shelter to your astronauts against the Moon’s harsh environment.

Our moon camp has many features used to protect astronauts from its harmful environment. We have many houses, bases, and movement assistants to help us navigate the terrain of the environment. Every building in our moon base is made of Moon Crete or is covered with a layer of moon Crete. We have dome-shaped bases built out of lunar Crete and other rocks on the moon. These are supported by metal stands bought from the rocket. To connect these bases to each other we have tubes that go to each base, which are made of metal. This will prevent the astronauts from having any unneeded exposure to the environment of the moon and make it easier to move from base to base. In case of any emergency or doubt, we have a radio station back to Earth and twin observatories to see any emergencies or incoming storms. We also have rovers and transportation buggies that help the astronauts get to certain areas of the moon to mine materials and ensure safety and separation from the environment around them.

3.2 – On the Moon, resources are very scarce, but during long Moon missions, astronauts cannot rely on resupply missions from the Earth. Explain how your Moon Camp will provide astronauts with sustainable access to basic needs like water, food, air and power.

First, there are a few plants that could be used for oxygen and food. For oxygen, our main resources are golden pothos and algae. Algae will be in enclosed containers in which the algae will grow in thrive, and golden pothos is a very low maintenance vine with the special ability to reproduce by cutting its stem and replanting that same stem. However, that stem should contain a plant bud to regrow another pothos. Aloe vera is a special plant that is one of the best oxygen production plants in the world and can also help in medication. Water will be brought in the cargo to sustain the astronauts for 3 days, since the rovers need to still finish up setting the water purifier. The water purifier can also be used to purify urine and sweat to water to sustain the astronauts in case of an emergency. Electricity will come from the solar panels but there will be also generators and backup generators in case of an emergency.

4.1 – What would you include in your astronaut training programme, to help prepare the astronauts for a Moon mission?

Training with the equipment in the submarine stations/swimming pools since going in the water is like being in space with zero gravity and in the water the astronaut should move around in the water to get used to moving around the station without a problem. Now moving on to the physical part, the astronaut should be able to do 2 hours of running whenever they want during the day, and they should do 1 hour of arm workouts and 1 hour of leg workouts because they need lots of muscle strength to prevent muscle and bone loss and to counteract the microgravity. They would also need to memorize moon camp stations and the functionality of the equipment. This helps them memorize how to get around if they were on the moon so that they do not waste time, can get to work, and do their work faster. The astronaut training program could also include the vomit comet so that they could train for the motion sickness that might come to them when they go travelling in the rocket.