Our Moon Camp idea is underground. On the surface of the moon, there are solar panels which provide electricity for the Moon Camp. There is an elevator leading down  into the Moon Camp. There are four rooms; the kitchen, the bedroom, the bathroom and the tech room. There are plants everywhere to provide oxygen. The sewage pipes lead into the centre of the moon. In the kitchen there are plants to provide oxygen but also some can be used for cooking. In addition, there are some dried astronaut snacks in case they want to eat something different.  In the bedroom there are little capsules to sleep in to save space and these help keep the astronauts from floating around without gravity. In the bathroom there is a toilet and a capsule shower to keep the water in. In the tech room, the astronauts do their research and work.

Close to the Lunar Poles

We chose to build our Moon Camp close to the south poles-Shackleton Crater . Firstly, at the south poles there is lots of polar ice and the astronauts can collect the polar ice to melt it into water to drink and to water the plants. Another reason we choose to build our Moon Camp close to the south poles, is that there is a lot of sun.This is very helpful for our Moon Camp because it is powered by solar panels and is energy-efficient. We need energy for the tech room and all of the equipment.

To get water the astronauts can collect the polar ice,which is near to the Sackleton crater to melt it into water. The astronauts use the moon buggy to drill the ice. We would install a collector container and pipes into the Moon Camp. When the container is full with ice, the sensors close the lid and the collection container is warmed with solar power. The ice melts and turns to water. We would also include filters to make sure that the water is clean and drinkable. When it passes through the filter and the pipes it reaches the moon base where it is kept in a tank.

The main source of food is plants and greens. We would use Hydroponics because they don’t need any soil to grow. When they are used up, the astronauts will replant new ones. The astronauts have enough water (see polar water melting process above) for the plants. For variety and proteins, the astronauts can use the dried astronaut snacks (e.g., nuts and dried meat) which can be sent up to the Moon Camp in a capsule. In order to make sure that they have all the vitamins they need, they have a supply of multi-vitamins and minerals.

We will be getting the power for all the devices and other technology from the solar panels.The solar panels are located on the surface of the moon and they have cables connecting the the technical devices

We will get oxygen from all the plants. You would have to water the plants. The water for the plants is provided by the polar water melting process.

We plan to build the Moon Camp underground so the main materials (steel, metal, titanium)should insulate the rooms, stabilize the structure and keep the temperatures stable. We could use some metals such as titanium for stabilizing the structure but also a 3D printer for some parts / walls to make it lighter and easy to transport. Other materials for the smaller parts could be transported in a space shuttle (moon buggy etc.) We would investigate the available materials from the moon to see how durable these are and how they could be used too.

Our Moon Camp is underground so if asteroids hit near our Moon Camp it won’t get damaged and also the astronauts won’t get hurt, Because the asteroids would hit the surface of the moon. The Moon Base will be 7m underground to  also protect from the radiation. 

The day on the moon starts with the technical checks. Once  the astronauts leave their capsule beds, the astronauts have to check the dashboard in the Moon Camp to see if there are any alarms (water tank empty, temperature changes, oxygen levels). When the astronauts have checked this they can do a workout using the fitness equipment and can then have their shower in the capsule. This is not as relaxing as on earth, but makes sure the water stays in the shower. They do their personal care, get dressed and take their special vitamins. After this they can take breakfast choosing between the plants and greens and the dried protein snacks.

The first real work then begins. They go out in the moon buggy to drill through the ice, check the solar panels, technical equipment, do any repairs necessary  and do some research and experiments on the different materials on the moon.( e.g. lunar soil) They have to wear their special equipment even if the temperatures at the lunar poles are not as extreme. They meet back in the kitchen for lunch with the other astronauts. In the afternoon they contact their friends and family on earth and then work in the tech room to summarize what they have achieved during the day. They submit their reports to earth. In the evening they watch television and relax. They have dinner which is more plants, greens and protein snacks and go to bed in their capsules.