Our moon camp project is designed to accommodate six astronauts as well as having basic requirements and functions such as: a lab for testing human and plant life in microgravity, a briefing room to discuss next steps of a certain mission and to make direct contact back to Earth. We also though more in depth about the safety of the crew for example, regular computer system checks that monitor air pressure, carbon dioxide, radiation, temperature, electricity and water to make our base efficient. By using natural resources such as regolith and ice found in the darkened craters at the lunar poles, we can use 3D printers to construct a sturdy base underground that will also protect from radiation and meteorites.

Close to the Lunar Poles

By building the base close to the lunar poles, a previous study calculated an estimated 600 million metric tons of water in the form of ice that we could use. This is present at mainly the North Pole and could be extracted, melted and filtered by a specially built rover much like ‘curiosity’ on a larger scale. It would be capable of drilling, analysing and producing drinkable water for the crew.

We aim to provide water by extracting ice with a specially built rover that would examine, melt and filter ice into water. Once enough is collected and stored, a water recycling system will be put in place to conserve and regulate usage, as well as vents to gather excess water vapour in the surrounding air.

By having a plantation room, we can successfully grow, harvest and study plants in microgravity. We suggest that a computer statistics chart could monitor the ph of water and soil/air quality. In addition to this, we could use micropropagation as a method of growing plants to duplicate and provide a sustainable harvest that would give the crew a variety of foods.

As our camp will constantly monitor energy efficiency, we also suggest using a renewable energy source ( the sunlight) in solar panels and solar cells. This can be sent directly to a generator which transforms the energy to electricity where later it can be stored in a large power holder (battery). This makes the electricity easy to access and for the astronauts to use.

To create oxygen in our base, we suggest a large scale electrolysis system. By sending strong currents through the water, we can separate both oxygen and hydrogen.Our ventilation device would filter the oxygen circulating it around the base and the flammable hydrogen would be stored further away from the base as a fuel.

To build the base we will use a mixture of concrete, regolith and water and will do so underground. Concrete powder is a much more light weight component than lead so will be easier to transport. Concrete walls will prevent radiation from entering and also are very study so could withstand meteorites. An extra layer of being underground would give more protection as well and makes it harder for cosmic radiation to enter.

The moons surface can be a very dangerous environment for the astronauts and it is very important to keep them safe. By building the camp underground we can protect the crew from meteorites and other hazards. Radiation is another issue that astronauts will have to face, so by making the walls from concrete, we can block most forms of harmful cosmic radiation. By having an airlock, the crew are able to safely enter of exit the base and complete tasks in a way that is not a danger to themselves or others.

A daily routine for the astronauts would involve checking data analytics from all aspects of the base and fixing any problems that occur. A recommend two hours of exercise will slow and decrease the effects of muscle atrophy and bone density loss. Three meals will be served per day and a small portion of time will be allocated for each persons own interests and family communications. Some of the crew will be responsible for regular supervision of the data chart in the plantation rooms, where as others will clean off dust from the solar panels/ cells to allow as much energy as possible to be collected.