moon_camp

Moon Camp Pioneers Gallery 2021-2022

In Moon Camp Pioneers each team’s mission is to 3D design a complete Moon Camp using Fusion 360. 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: CFS Deep Dark

IX Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Klementyny Hoffmanowej w Warszawie, XIV Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Stanisława Staszica w Warszawie, XLI Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Joachima Lelewela, III Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Marynarki Wojennej RP w Gdyni  Warsaw    Poland 15   4 / 3


External viewer for 3d project

Project description

The goal of the mission is to build a self-sufficient research station and permanent accommodation for four-person at the bottom of a crater.

At the entrance is air Lock in what are located Artemis suit airlocks, air pumps and tanks. The residential part of the base consists of 7 modules and 5 of them connected with the main hall:

  • Two sleeping modules (for two-person each) – the private space for astronauts and their place of rest
  • Greenhouse – plantation and food production
  • Technical – unfreezing/electrolysis device, cooling/heating device
  • AACM – the room to store the bioreactors for air purification and tanks containing Oxygen, Hydrogen and Water. Additionally algae biomass can be used to produce food or fuel.
  • Lab – a place where research and experiments are being done.
  • Staff – utility room
  • Main hall – despite being connector it also has a gym.
2.1 Where do you want to build your Moon Camp?

The place we chose for our base is the bottom of the Shackleton – a crater in the lunar south pole. Because of severe weather and complete darkness, this place creates unique conditions for further exploration. Moreover, current research indicates the presence of solid water, which is an indispensable factor for our mission. We suppose that the bottom of this crater may be also geologically diverse which makes it attractive for scientists.

2.2 How do you plan to build your Moon Camp? Describe the techniques, materials and your design choices.

The astronauts at the beginning of the mission are going to live in the Starship. At this point, they must get the base ready to inhabit. While building the base we plan to use mostly Moon’s resources and self-production to minimize the necessity of taking everything from Earth. The modules would be transported in parts ready to immediately combine. Concrete (the main material we use) will be produced from the lunar regolith in hermetic rooms separated from the base. It will cover the base to buckle from the cosmic radiation. Some plastic parts inside the moon camp will be produced with a 3D printer. This method would allow us to save up on costs and print needed parts in case of any break. Then after covering modules in concrete we astronauts will cover the base with regolith dust to give a base additional cover.

2.3 The environment on the Moon is very dangerous for the astronauts. Explain how your Moon Camp will protect them. (maximum 150 words)

During the mission, astronauts are exposed to cosmic radiation. A solution to this problem is concrete covers built from  lunar regolith, which has the feature of stopping radiation. Thick layer of dusty regolith will also help. Concrete layer defends them from heat and extreme differences in temperatures as well. Since we placed the base at the bottom of a crater there is a small danger caused by micro meteorites because crater’s edges are tall. To prevent deficiency of sunlight astronauts have supplemented vitamin D.

2.4 Explain how your Moon Camp will provide the astronauts with:

Water
Food
Power
Air

In the beginning, during the preparation of modules, we use water brought from Earth which is necessary to run the base. Later we entirely switch the water extracted from ice under the surface. For this purpose, we use a special rover. It collects the ice to later unfreeze it in the device called Defroster and then store it in AACM. We also have a system filtration that allows for reuse of water from living modules. Like on the ISS we want to maximize saving water.

For the production of food, the hydroponics method will be used, in which there is no need to take soil from Earth. Plants will grow with the use of the Ebb and Flow Technique in which precious water stays in circulation. This system is risk-free, low-cost and easy to maintain. The fertilizer will be produced ourselves from necessary substances or later regained from astronauts’ excrement. A culture media will be produced autonomously from the micro and macro elements (including K, P, N, S and Fe, Mn, B). Because of its lightness, kermesite will be used as drainage. Our culture consists of 32 rows therefore we may be self-sufficient and assure a balanced vegan diet. Only vitamins such as B12 and D will be supplemented. After algae grow enough we can use it as an additional food for astronauts.

The electricity would be provided with two methods:
● Hydrogen Fuel Cells. The water is collected and stored in tanks. Implementing the method of electrolysis it decomposes into Oxygen and Hydrogen gas. With the involvement of the electrolysis device, it’s transformed into powering the cells. Electricity from these cells will provide Nuclear reactor energy for running itself.
● Inspired by NASA’s idea we would like to have a small nuclear reactor that would sit away from the base and would provide the base with electricity for a long time.

To clean the air astroanuts will be using the AACM (Algae Air Cleaning Module) – module of our moon base uses the technology of algae CO2 capturing abilities to turn it into pure oxygen and biomass. Biomass from this module can be then converted to fertilizers for algae, fuel or even food. This process uses photosynthesis:
6CO2 + 6H2O + light → C6H12O6 + 6O2
The issue with this idea is high energy demand which can be solved by using hydrogen fuel cells and a nuclear reactor that we are planning to use as our main energy source. This whole system will be in a separate module and It will be the main source of astronauts’ air they breathe.

2.5 Explain what would be the main purpose of your Moon Camp.

Since we propose to build a camp at the bottom of Shackleton crater the main purpose of the mission would be scientific development and gaining knowledge for future missions. The Moon craters remain unexplored therefore astronaut research may have a huge impact on the development of science. We would like to prospect the potential possibility of gaining an advantage from diverse geological elements occurring in the Moon craters. Throughout collecting samples we can collect data that was unavailable before. The mission would be a great opportunity to investigate the possibility of using the Moon resources in off-Earth manufacturing. It is also an opportunity to try new technologies like small nuclear reactors or algae air filtration.

3.1 Describe a day on the Moon for your Moon Camp astronaut crew.

 

Throughout the day at least one of astronauts would need to be awake to react to possible alarms. To make this happen every astronaut would have their plan moved by about 2 hours. Plan may change because of special needs but that would be told by gateway crew to astronauts during communication window. The casual day plan (when base is up and running) is as follows:

At 7:00 a.m. astronauts wake up. They are starting their morning by doing hygiene and eating breakfast. Then they will do half of their daily gym training.

At 8:00 a.m. astronauts will start routine base inspection. It would not take them long because computers will recognize all potential failures. After computer check astronauts w make quick look at all devices separately.

At 8:30 a.m. astronauts will begin their work. There are multiple options to choose (few examples):

  • Moonwalk to collect ice for defroster.
  • Scientific research in laboratory or outside mooncamp.
  • Outside sample collection.
  • Plants/algae maintenance.
  • Possible reparations.

At 2:00 p.m. astronauts will have a dinner break up to 15:30. During this time they can do whatever they want.

At 3:30 p.m. astronauts will start their second working time.

At 6:00 p.m. astronauts will be given special tasks and next day plan due to communication window opening (gateway would not always be above their heads) During this time astronauts would be queuing data to send through next communication windows.

At 7:00 p.m. personal time for astronauts begin. They can do whatever they want, but they need to take second half of their training in gym done during this time. Sleeping time begins at 22:00.

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