moon_camp

Moon Camp Explorers Gallery 2019-2020

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 dangerous of space and describe the living and working facilities.

Team: Moonguid

Liceum Prestige  Kyiv    Ukraine

External link for 3d

Project description

We propose build moon camp at steps:

  • Get real numbers and technology tests (test mission on the moon)
  • Remote control robots 
  • Several place for solar panels connected wirelessly (one of them at light)
  • Most modules have two entrances. Camp ready for short time people
  • For preparation for using lava tube made 3d detailed map of entrance to lava tube (with help of lidar)
  • Cislunar transport with using Moon manufactured fuel
Where do you want to build your Moon Camp?

2 places at the south pole (close to Shackleton crater).

Why did you choose this location?

at least one – at light

 We used criterias from reports:

  • NASA report  TR-68-340-1
  • USSR documents
  • India article, China (ChangE-4) and Beresheet (Israel) general description
  • light map near the south pole. 

Pros and Сons:

  • Pole (less time without light, confirmed water ice, but require additional fuel for main engine and hydrazine engine for make impulse)
  • Equator (“Free return”)
  • Limb (“communications and better radio telescope”)
  • Far side of the moon (radio telescope, communications like China project)

 We selected the area, then choose the exact place:

 flat surface for landing and ~2 degrees. Area is suitable for walking.

 Light+water=energy+fuel+food+air

Water
Food
Electricity
Air

Collect
For robots in craters (at LCROSS confirmed location) we propose to use miracles for it’s stirling engine. We bulldozer regolith, close with dome and meld ice with fresnel linza (lighter and compact)
Reuse
For decreasing use of water per team member from 16l to 4l we can use a similar ISS machine . It is required around 6m2 space for 4 team members (3m2 for machine and space for service of machine)
Water
Collect
We proposed to use miracles for robots’ stirling engine in craters (at LCROSS confirmed location). We bulldozered regolith, closed with dome and melted ice by sunlight concentrated Fresnel lenses (lighter and compact)
Reuse
For decreasing usage of water per team member from 16l to 4l we can use a similar to ISS machine. It is required around 6m2 space for 4 team members (3m2 for machine and space for servicing)
Storage
In the form of ice (no need to spend energy)

What – plants and insects
How
We propose growing plants without soil according to the EDEN ISS experiment. So, we need separate space with algae to utilize CO2 and produce O2.
We also propose to use results of the machine learning Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge (2018) experiment.
How many
Along with 2200 calories we also need proteins, fats and carbohydrates per crew member.
To grow plants for 4 people 42 m2+energy+water are required.
When to start
Plants are not growing fast. We need to start earlier

According to our calculations 5000m2 of solar panels are required. We concentrate solar light by multi inflatable modules covered by mirrors forming a hyperbola. BIGELLOW already uses inflatable modules at ISS.
Where
– at several places close to Shackleton crater
– To avoid the dust electrization by solar radiation the panels need to be placed at least 1.5 meters above the Moon surface.
For additional solar panels we will test microwave transfer of energy.
Additionally, we put light into craters with mirrors and use temperature difference between light and shadow to supply Stirling’s motor for robots

Source of O2
Hydrolysis of water.
We make a test and select the best anode materials for molten electrolysis processes.
Utilize CO2
Main approach – Algae
For 4 crew members we need 32 m2 for algae.
To initially fill the room with algae with air we need air ballons and space for them.
Backup approach – chemical
All filters for utilisation of CO2 have to be standardised (to avoid Apollo 13 issue)

How do you plan to build your Moon Camp? Which materials would you use?

We use In-Situ Moon resources. Processes are slow, so we need additional time for air, water, and energy production. At first get performance metrics comparing competitive technologies.

Then solar energy farms  and collect water and start producing air. 

First buildings we can build by ESA approach bulldozered+melding “bone” structure, we can use  Fresnel lenses.

We need: 

  • 3 rooms for food plants 42 m2
  • A separate room for algae 32 m2
  • A communication room 4 m2
  • 2 water and air warehouses  3+3 m2
  • A repair lab 4 m2
  • A room for reusing water 6m2

For safety most rooms have two entrances

The Moon environment is very dangerous for the astronauts. Explain how your Moon Camp will protect them.

From meteorites:

We propose to use multi-layer passive protection similar to ISS. All active protections (laser with telescope, and mechanical catapultes) are still in development.

To protect electronics from radiation – special electronics for space or Bereshit approach (little bit cheaper)

To protect people – ESA approach: bulldozered regolith+melding “bone” structure to reduce power consumption. Lasers that can operate at such a low temperature are still under development (MOONRISE project). So we require a preheated laser to start melting.

EDEN ISS data has to be used for calculation of power consumption for low temperature protection.

Describe a day on the Moon for one of your Moon Camp astronauts

At ISS most of daytime astronauts spend for servicing the equipment and scientific experiments. We have enough video cameras at moon camp and a local computer power to make inventarization like in an Amazon offline shop. Also we have cold and hot corridors for equipment and heat pipes and most of the equipment doesn’t have fans, and astronauts can sleep without headphones. 

The most servicing activities are designed in such a way that astronauts can do it without spacesuits. 

They also check activity of autonomous  “Axel rovers”-like robots for designing maps and new experimental robots (like motherships to carry  small robots).

Sure, astronauts check the plants’ state and harvest some food. Today they have fresh tomatoes for breakfasts.

According to today’s plan they have to perform routine tests of fuel production stations.

They prepare an expedition to the far side of the moon (building telescope). They need ms of robots (it is cheaper to make 2 simple robots then a complex redundant robot) . The Earth Team updates robots software with new functions, currently robots are able to receive updates from lunar orbiters, like Tesla cars on the Earth.

And finally astronauts recheck free plant queues for melting metals for the next batches of asteroids.


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