This project’s purpose is to introduce a special 3D model of a moon habitat, which will be located underneath the Moon’s surface, in one of the lunar tubes situated near the Shackleton Crater, right at the South Pole of this natural satellite, in the permanent presence of sunlight. The benefits of such emplacement are the protection against space radiation, meteorites, other bodies or phenomenon and against extreme temperatures, to name a few. The many harms listed above that could have potentially affected the wellbeing of the camp determined us to consider the placement of the camp inside the lunar tubes a necessity. The purpose of this project is to stretch the borders of the current knowledge about the Moon by becoming a research base and making deeper investigations of the lunar tubes from which we hope to extract valuable data. We’ve made it our mission to research the Moon’s environment and present it to every person, as many individuals still don’t know enough about it and its harsh environment. Lastly, it is important to mention that this base also serves leisure purposes, such as the creation of the first lunar hotel and the development of the new industry of space tourism.

To conclude, several different concepts have been evaluated and the most reasonable was chosen for a detailed design. In spite of the fact that lunar construction is difficult, the proposed habitat promises to resist the Moon’s harsh environment and sustain life.

When thinking about a location for the base, we need to take into consideration some criteria: good location, easy construction possibilities and protection against the exterior conditions.

The spot we chose for “Hora” Camp will be located in the Moon’s South Pole, Shackleton Crater, as it is one of the only places where we can have full access to the sun light, fact that will later help during our mission on Earth’s natural satellite. The exact location of the base will be underground as this is a simple but useful way of protecting the explorers form unfavorable conditions, such as extreme temperatures and space radiation. Moreover, our purpose is to create an accurate map of the lunar tubes in order to aid the world to evolve in the field of spatial knowledge, meaning that situating right next to the area that is studied can only bring positive aspects.

Hora’s is designed to have an accommodation space for twelve people, scientists or tourists, sufficient storage space for fuel, water, food, and for oxygen’s obtainment and a research laboratory. All these are separated into three different floors of the same size, but slightly different spacing.

The integral moon habitat, observed from above, traces the contour of six hexagons encircling a center one, all equal in size, mimicking a honeycomb. The hexagons edges are 3.58 m. Conclusively, the total surface of one floor is 33.3 m² and the one of “Hora” 250 m². The height of each floor is 3 m and the camp’s height 11 m. This habitat is situated in one of the vertical lunar tubes. The middle hexagon will be a passage from the lunar habitat to the lunar surface.

The only floor that presents a more complex arrangement is the first one. Top view, each of the outer hexagons is split diametrically by a wall as in by connecting all of them to create a larger hexagon around the center one. In between the two hexagons all walls disappear in order to create a hallway serving as living area and gym. Furthermore, two walls will split each of the remaining outermost cells to create one rectangular bedroom for two and two triangular spaces for a kitchen and a bathroom.

Some of the materials used into the habitat’s skeleton or its securing into the lunar tube’s walls are titanium, magnesium alloys, Kevlar, high-grade steel and carbon nanotubes.

Environmental conditions outside the spacecraft are cruel, meaning that an active shield should be used in order to control the heat (22 – 27°C) humidity (40-60%) and prevent people from space radiation.

As in space air does not exist for conduction or convection, the only way of keeping the temperature at a specific level is by using radiation already existing. This means that the ship will need to be insulated (keeps heat in for warmth or out for cooling). For maintaining the heat there will be used a highly-reflective blanket called Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI; it keeps the solar radiation that comes from the top of the base out and prevents the cold from entering the metal structure of the spacecraft).

Moreover, an Active Thermal Control System (ATCS) will be implemented in order to reduce the temperature inside the ship when it is too high and maintain the level of humidity.

At the beginning of our habitat’s construction, we will bring water from Earth. However, after the Moon Camp will be set up, we will obtain water from the lunar ice, located at the South Pole, near our location. Carts will mine the water from the bottom of the Shackleton Crater. We will then store this water and filter it through a water purifier, including the waste liquids from the astronauts, and thus create a closed water cycle system.

In the first phase we will transport food from Earth with the help of the SpaceX Dragon that will be connected to the Gateway. From there, a commercial lunar lander will bring the food to our base. In the next phase we will grow plants in our greenhouse (located at the 3rd floor). The plants will be grown in hydroponics, as they use less water than traditional soil-based systems and need no soil.

The power will be provided by solar panels. Because of our location, near the Shackleton Crater we will get constant sunlight. The solar panels will be placed on 360 ° rotating bases so that we will maximize the amount of energy we can produce. Furthermore, we will store the power in high-capacity batteries as a backup source during possible outages. We are also considering using a Thermoelectric Generator that could convert the big temperature differences on the Moon directly into electrical energy through a phenomenon called the Seebeck effect.

In the early stages we will import compressed air from Earth. Once the construction of the habitat is finalized, we will obtain oxygen from the plants in our greenhouse and from the lunar regolith. Metals will form as a waste product. We will use as an alternative source, water electrolysis.

Space exploration is essential as it offers us additional knowledge about our solar system’s history but also Earth’s geological record. The main purpose of our Moon Camp is to research the lunar lava tubes in order to create an accurate map of the tube’s network.

The lunar tubes are tunnels created on the Moon by the eruption of basaltic lava flows. When a lava flow’s surface cools, it hardens, enabling the lava to flow beneath the surface in a tube-shaped conduit. Once the lava flow stops it leaves a hollow void creating a lunar lava tube.

Lunar tubes could facilitate lunar exploration by protecting astronauts from cosmic and solar radiation and impacts but also from extreme temperature differences between the lunar day and night.

Scientists believe that some of the tubes could actually be interconnected building an underground maze with important resources such as water trapped as ice.

Besides being a scientific complex, Hora is also a tourist-friendly lunar camp, dedicating the first floor to its visitators.

During their research time on “Hora” Moon Camp, every scientist must respect a well prepared schedule with the purpose of maintaining order on the spatial base.

Each worker sleeps on the same level as the tourists (first floor). At the beginning of the day, scientists must go to the cafeteria zone where they are served with special dishes. In space, health is different. Astronauts frequently suffer from vitamin deficiencies due to the lack of sunlight and gravity. Daily meals are meant to be rich in proteins, vitamin D, vitamin K and vitamin C. Besides these, nuts and other full of protein edibles that expire very hard will be brought on the same shuttle with the tourists to the base. Later on, they get ready and go to the third floor (laboratories) and start researching samples of materials found in lunar tubes and try to create an accurate map of the route that these cylinders have underneath Moon.

While the scientists begin their work, the other camp personnel take care of the visitors by touring them about the camp and telling them about noteworthy findings.

After having the second meal of the day, every person that lives on the base has to go to the gym and train their muscles so that they can help preventing muscle atrophy, as living in places with little gravity can have a bad impact on the human body, affecting the muscular and skeletal systems. After recreation time, period in which people communicate with each other in order for them to maintain their mental health, scientist have to check the base (meaning that they have to see if the level of oxygen in the atmosphere is high enough, if there are any technical issues on the camp). Succeeding this, one researcher has to go all the way to the surface of the Moon to see if there are any problems related to the solar panels, while another one has to manually check the rovers for any issues. After everything is assured to be safe tourists are invited to explore small sections of secured lunar tubes near the camp, guided by camp staff.

After all of these, the last meal of the day is served. Before going to sleep, doctors check the astronaut’s health with electrocardiographs, blood pressure cuffs and fingertip oxygen saturation monitors.