In Moon Camp Pioneers, each team’s mission is to 3D design a complete Moon Camp using the software of their choice. They also have to explain how they will use local resources, protect astronauts from the dangers of space and describe the living and working facilities in their Moon Camp.
Second Place – Non-ESA Member states
Özel Bahçeşehir Koleji Fen ve Teknoloji Lisesi Samsun-Turkey Turkey 14, 16, 17 6 / 3 English
3D design software: Fusion 360
Entirely designed by our team, our moon camp is positioned between Shackleton and Shoemaker craters to host 4 astronauts during their scientific research. The main base, which was highly influenced by the leaves of the plants during its design, has layers that meet different purposes and consists of 6 different parts. The first of these sections contains the working areas of the astronauts, the second contains the electrolysis and water treatment systems, the third has the personal areas of the astronauts, the fourth includes the astronauts’ common areas, the fifth contains the material room and warehouse, and the last is the agricultural area. Apart from the main base is the garage and observatory, their designs inspired by the shells of armadillos, a lunar module, and 3D printing robotic arms. To meet the needs of the base, such as water and oxygen, or to provide waste management, various systems have been placed in the base; a hybrid communication system has been created to provide communication, solar panels have been placed on the base, and different regions to provide energy, and rovers have been designed to help astronauts during their missions.
We are planning to take a big step in humanity’s journey to the moon with our designed moon camp. The lunar base we have completed for now is for scientific research, but this may be changed in the future. The idea of our base produced at this stage was developed for only 4 astronauts. This design includes laboratories and resources where astronauts can work on astrophysics, chemistry, biology, and agriculture. However, with the modular structure of our base, expanding the design and increasing the radius of its purpose is possible. With the enlargement of the base in the later stages, our base may be opened for commercial purposes to show the world what life is like in space. With even later stages, our base can be enlarged so that touristic expeditions may be possible.
We are planning to build our moon camp at the South Pole, specifically between Shackleton and Shoemaker Craters. Our main reason for choosing to locate our base between these two craters is to take advantage of both of them. Studies show that Shoemaker Crater contains vast frozen water, hydrogen, and mineral resources. Therefore, we can use frozen water for drinking, hydrogen for water extraction and energy, and minerals for scientific research. On the other hand, Shackleton Crater’s temperature values fluctuate less. The crater gets sunlight continuously for almost 2 months and 90% of the day, meaning that we can save more energy for our moon camp with solar panels. Since the distance between these two craters is approximately 60-65 km, it will be possible to travel between them. It is also predicted that the chosen location’s weather will be partially better, and this will reduce adverse conditions to a minimum.
The construction of our moon camp will include two different missions named A and B. Mission A will be completed autonomously without astronauts stepping onto the moon. This phase will be run by specially designed rovers and 3D printing robotic arms, using construction materials such as concrete and ETFE from Earth. Firstly, the grader rover will make the ground suitable for the base and collect lunar soil. Next, autonomous rovers and robotic arms will start building the base. The inner layer of our base will be made of concrete that is constituted with lunar soil. After that, the central layer will be made with ETFE, and lastly, the outer layer will be made with lunar soil that will be transformed into a usable form for 3D printing. The outline of our base will be finished by placing solar panels on the roofs. The general design of our base was inspired by leaves. The three-layered structure of our headquarters was obtained from their layered texture, while the base corridors were replicated from nervures. Additionally, the design of our garage and observatory was inspired by armadillos’ ability to protect themselves with their shield. This design also provided a collapsible structure, which helped us with space-saving. Moreover, our base design was constituted with regard to modularity and longevity, allowing us to expand our base whenever desired. Within Mission B, astronauts will land and place all the properties handed, which will be the start of life on the moon.
Astronauts stationed at a moon camp would be exposed to a harsh environment that can threaten their health and safety. Among the most significant challenges they would face is providing them protection and shelter from the extreme lunar environment. To achieve this, our team has analyzed and searched in depth about environmental issues that can be faced in our moon camp. We listed primary factors that should be considered as thermal insulation and protection from meteorites and radiation. In this direction, we sought solutions for each identified problem and embedded these solutions in our design, precisely in the structure of our base. Looking at the material selection in general, four main features were sought. These were determined as reflective materials that reflect sunlight on the lunar surface and protect the temperature, heat insulation materials that prevent heat loss in the interior, durable materials that will form the outer layers of the camp, and light materials that will be placed on the foundation to facilitate the installation of the base. We decided which materials would suit each feature by further elaborating on and investigating these. We decided on using lunar soil as reflective material. With this layer located at the outermost part of the base, we also provided thermal insulation and protection from meteorites. The ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) material, which will form the middle layer of the base, will increase the strength even with a thin and light layer with its high melting temperature and will also favor us with the high-energy radiation resistance, recyclable, and long-lasting properties of this material. The innermost concrete layer will provide the base’s primary radioactive insulation. Up to a 1-meter layer will protect the base from gamma and x-rays. Our air and water purification systems will also ensure the safety of astronauts inside the base.
Water: Water is crucial for life in the camp. At first, the necessary amount of water will be brought from Earth. A water management system that continuously cycles around the base will also be built. This system will purify urine, sweat, humidity, etc. By doing purification, we will be recycling 90% of the water. Lunar water ice is another option to use as a water resource. Water ice will be taken out with rovers and stored to use whenever it is necessary.
Food: At first, astronauts will consume the foods they brought from Earth. Additionally, fresh food will be provided using the aeroponic agriculture method. With aeroponic agriculture, 95% of the water will be saved, and growth will be 3 times faster than with traditional agriculture. We aim to create a healthy diet for astronauts. We planned to grow potatoes, spinach, beans, etc., which have high nutritional value and are easy to grow.
Air: Our recycling system includes an air management system. The necessary amount of water from the water management system will be sent for electrolysis. With electrolysis, hydrogen and oxygen molecules will be separated. Oxygen, which has become suitable for breathing, will be distributed around our base. The remaining hydrogen will be used to produce water with our Sabatier system. The photosynthesis cycle of the plants will also contribute to the air management system.
Power: Power is vital to ensure the continuity of the base. We planned to place N-Type IBC solar panels that have 23% efficiency at the top of our base. Additionally, concentrated solar panels (CSP), which convert sunlight into heat and stock it, will be placed at Shackleton crater since this location is almost always exposed to sunlight. This system significantly contributes to the base because it is renewable and highly efficient.
Waste management is an essential matter in our moon base. Right from the off, our management plans were built to minimize waste expenditure by following a zero-waste policy. On the other hand, as long as there are different types of waste, it is necessary to use various methods to reduce and dispose of each litter. The organic waste produced can be converted into fertilizers. This will provide heat and energy to come out for the heating system of the base. The produced fertilizers can also be used for planting studies. Additionally, utilizable waste such as plastics will be used to create our camps’ needs by using them to supply filaments in 3D printers. On the other hand, unconvertible solid waste may also come off with various uses. This waste will be sent into the Earth’s atmosphere and ensure that they are destroyed by burning.
To meet different requirements in space communication, like reliability and latency, we decided to create a hybrid communication structure in our moon camp where different systems meet these requirements. The primary method will be radio communications, as in previous lunar missions. Since it is faster, a laser communication system can be used when instant communication is required. For these systems, there must be a ground station on Earth and a transceiver and antenna on the moon. The positioning of the ground stations should be close to the equator with a clear view of the southern sky to have a continuous view of the camp. Finally, the camp may also have a backup system that supports satellite communication which is the most secure and studied method. The satellite required can be positioned in the moon’s orbit, and this can also maintain communication between other moon camps.
Our moon camp would present an unparalleled opportunity for scientific exploration, offering a unique environment to conduct research across a wide range of scientific disciplines. The contents that will be included in the studies to be carried out in our moon camp will definitely include the structure and environment of the moon. The main factor in such studies may be the lunar soil. It is said that lunar soil has the potential to be used in the production of oxygen and fuel. This may be a field that our campers study. By examining the soil and rocks taken from the lunar surface, minerals and similar substances can be investigated, and research can be done on what these materials can be used for. Apart from substances, traces of life can also be explored. At the same time, astronauts can analyze and discover more details about the moon’s formation. Additionally, plantation studies can be made on lunar soil. Going further, the use of various microorganisms in lunar agriculture can be examined, or different methods can be studied to make agriculture on the lunar soil and in the lunar environment possible. While all working on these fields, a recent and developed mapping of the moon and its geological characteristics can be made. Finally, studies on the psychology of the astronauts in the base can also be carried out. The psychological changes and developments of these individuals, who will live in isolation in a different environment for a long time, can be followed by communicating with the world. At the same time, astronauts can be provided to keep a diary or vlog during their time in space to support this work, thus creating a resource about how life in space is.
In a moon camp, astronauts will enter an unfamiliar environment in isolation while watching the planet they spent their entire life shrink into a small blue and green sphere. It is a fact that these enormous changes in astronauts’ lives may have both physical and mental effects on them in time. Therefore, astronauts must take a training program to ensure they are fully prepared to handle the physical and mental challenges of living and working on the moon. Our team prepared a program trial for the astronauts that will take about 3 years to complete. In the first stage, astronauts will have a year of general training on life in space. Each astronaut will have detailed training on their specialty in later stages. The first stage of the training will contain two significant areas; mental health and physical proficiency. With their physical training, astronauts will be familiarized with the harsh moon conditions, like how to adapt to moving or reduce muscle loss in low-gravity conditions. On the other hand, all astronauts should take basic training on dealing with systems used in the base and other spacecraft while training on acting in any possible malfunctions. All astronauts should also know first aid and basic medical information. With their mental training, astronauts will learn to deal with isolation while learning about teamwork and improving their communication skills and problem-solving abilities since they will have several people in their life in the camp. After learning the necessary skills, astronauts will take training on their own specialties like bio-engineering, chemical-engineering, or flight-engineering and how they can use these on the moon. The astronauts’ training won’t be over when they land on the moon, but it will continue with communication provided with experts on Earth like psychiatrists.
Our journey in space begins with a spacecraft consisting of command, service, and lunar module parts. The command module will be the central part where astronauts will control the spacecraft. The service module will store the engine, fuel, and all equipment used on the moon. The Lunar module will be used for landing and takeoff on the moon. Looking at the vehicles in our camp, there is a research rover, a builder rover, and a collector rover. Research rover, which has a storehouse, is for astronauts to use when traveling and researching on the moon. Builder Rover has a grader and excavator parts that autonomously collect lunar soil while flattening the ground for the base and building it. The Collector rover mainly collects lunar water, ice, and other samples around the moon. There is also a drone designed to explore the moon with another viewpoint.
