From the beginning we established that we wanted to create a model, as realistic as we could make, like a possible ESA lunar base project, within the time frame and know-how that we have available. As such, our objective was to design a base that can protect the astronauts from the moon’s hostile environment, provide water, grow food, a place to rest, and more important than that, a place that the astronauts that are the base can do scientific research. Even thought, we combined that practicality and safety of the lunar module with ease of construction and transportation, that we wanted to achieve. Thus, having made a base that, similar to a puzzle, has to join the various pieces in order to be built.

We decided to build the lunar base in Clavius Crater, because when investigating possible places to build it we saw that Clavius had a relatively straight soil, which is a big advantage when building the base. It also had a very good solar exposure, that is a big advantage since we are using solar panels as our only energy source. And finally because SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy) identified liquid water in the crater, beyond water in the solid state that is most abundant on the moon.

For the execution of our moon camp we planned it in four steps: First we start sending materials with one to two years in advance, via “space cargo ships”; After all the materials are on the moon, and the astronauts and the astronauts have been sent to the moon, the construction of the lunar base starts by assembling all the dome parts, and collecting megaregolith (lunar dust) in order to later be added water and put the lunar cement on the 3D printer; Only then the 3D printer that will already be on the moon, can start printing a protective shield on top of the base; Finally the base will have to be pressurize, so that the astronauts can live there.

In response to the very hostile moon environment, we decided to do the plates of the dome with carbon fiber, for being a very resistant material, with a layer of aerogel because it is a very good thermal insulator, that comes with great advantages when regulating the temperature of the lunar module, since the moon has a very thermal amplitude. We also decided to make a 3D printed protective shield of the lunar base, that is printed right on top of the base, in order to protect the astronauts on the module from the dangerous solar radiation and meteorites that might compromise the base.

The Moon Camp will provide water to the all crew, through three reservoirs located outside the module. Those reservoirs will be filled with liquid and solid H20 from the lunar surface, collected by robots that will “mine” the lunar surface. The reservoir temperature will then be regulated so that the solid H20 can melt. After that water which is consumed and processed by the various astronauts on the form of human waste (urine, sweat), will go through the ECLSS (Environmental Control and Life Support System) that recycles that water in order to be usable again, wasting a lot less water.

The Moon Camp will provide food, in similar ways the food is provided to the ISS. However we decided to make a room in the lunar base, only dedicated to the growth of foods such as vegetables and fruits, which has cabinets that in each shelve there is a little vegetable garden.

The Moon Camp will provide power through solar panels, that will be on the side of the base.

The Moon Camp will provide air to the base by recycling all the air, through the ECLSS (Environmental Control and Life Support System), that will be needed to send to the moon in order to pressurize it.

The main purposes of the base are scientific. That is this means analyzing and mapping the moon in more detail, understanding what human life is like on the moon, and exploring the potential of the moon to become a fueling station for future space exploration.

.