Agrupamento de Escolas Daniel Sampaio Almada-Setúbal Portugal 16 years old 3 / 2 English Jupiter’s moons
Our camp is on Jupiter’s moon, Europa, with the purpose of searching for life in the ocean of this natural satellite, observing the effect of low gravity on pollinating insects, studying the behavior and dynamics of gaseous celestial bodies, and also, due to the proximity of the asteroid belt, investigating the behavior of asteroids. Our colony would be located in a Chaos area, near one of the few craters on the satellite. Chaos areas are geological structures near the Ridges. In these regions, geothermal energy is more likely to exist, and we could take advantage of that. Regarding the structure of the Cold Zone, we would utilize parts from the rocket, materials produced by 3D printers (which we would bring along), and Europa’s own ice. The ice layer would serve as protection against radiation, and between it and the interior of the colony, there would be an inflatable module. The entire colony would be constructed using 3D printers, specially adapted for Europa’s low gravity and harsh temperatures. The travel and construction process would occur in two phases: first, the 3D printers would build the base structure of the colony, and second, the crew would arrive a few months later. Europa has an ice layer of approximately 20 kilometers. We would carry out surveys to reach this layer, and with these surveys, we would melt the ice to obtain water. Furthermore, we would also produce water through the chemical reaction 2 H₂ + O₂ → 2 H₂O. This reaction would be possible due to the existence of oxygen in Europa’s atmosphere, which, in turn, exists because of the radiation that Jupiter emits onto Europa’s surface. This radiation separates the H₂O molecules, releasing O₂. To simulate gravity, we would utilize the metallic structure of the rocket that takes us to the satellite. This structure would serve as the base for the colony. The astronauts’ suits, as well as most of the laboratory materials taken from Earth, would incorporate a magnetic fiber in their composition, attracting them to the “ground.” The energy supply would be through solar panels, nuclear fusion and geothermal energy, existing in some geological structures (namely Chaos). In addition to astronaut freeze-dried food, we would use hydroponics (through NFT) and pollinating insects to produce food inside our greenhouse. Regarding plastic products, astronauts can utilize the 3D printer by directly inputting domestic waste, this serves as raw material for producing additional items. As for human waste, specialized biological and chemical areas process it, transforming it into fertilizer. Water would also be recycled in a filtering system. To mitigate the effects of low gravity and extreme temperatures, astronauts will exercise daily. Therefore, the gym is well-equipped, and the machines are made of magnetic fibers, allowing them to be attracted to the ‘floor’. Regarding transportation, the colony would have three rovers (specifically adapted for Europa’s harsh environment) for surface exploration. Additionally, space shuttles connecting Europa to Earth and the International Space Station (ISS) would be available.
https://view.genial.ly/6622a3f521e22b0014b1212b/presentation-europas-colony-cold-zone
