3.1 – How will your Moon Camp provide astronauts with sustainable access to basic needs like water, food, air and power?
To support the needs of all astronauts during the program, Ufton has 2 main tools, namely: an air revitalization system and a water recovery system. [1] Air revitalization system. It is a collection of assemblies: carbon-dioxide concentration, carbon-dioxide processing, and oxygen generator. The air revitalization system is responsible for removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air in the Ufton and replenishing it with oxygen (O2). This is achieved through a process called electrolysis, which separates water into hydrogen and oxygen gas. The hydrogen is vented into space, while the oxygen is mixed with the existing air supply to maintain a breathable atmosphere for the crew. The oxygen generator is a key part of the air revitalization system, as it produces the oxygen that is needed to replenish the air supply. The generator uses electrolysis to extract oxygen from water, and it can produce up to 12 pounds (5.4 kilograms) of oxygen per day. The system is designed to be highly reliable and to require minimal maintenance, as it is critical to the survival of the crew. [2] Water Recovery System. The water recovery system is responsible for recycling and purifying wastewater and urine on the Ufton. It uses a series of filters, distillation units, and ion exchange systems to remove impurities and contaminants from the water, making it safe for the crew to drink. The system is able to recover up to 93% of the water used on the Ufton, which is critical for long-duration missions where water is a scarce resource. As with previous launches, most of the astronauts’ meals are canned and frozen foods. However, the existence of greenhouses can allow them to eat fresh food directly. All electricity needs will be supplied by solar panels, which have been measured according to the needs of astronauts.
3.2 – How will your Moon Camp deal with the waste produced by the astronauts on the Moon?
All garbage produced by the astronauts will be processed, varying according to the type of waste. [a] Food waste. Food waste will be softened in the disposer, then it will be channeled into a special tank to be dried and processed into fertilizer. After drying, the fertilizer will be used for the benefit of the greenhouse. [b] Human waste. The toilet will suck feces, then distribute it to another tank specifically for drying and temporary storage. All the reservoirs that have dried up will be brought back to Earth when the moon camp is over. [c] Inorganic. Using special treatment, inorganic waste will be processed using a high-strength tool. The process is, the collected inorganic waste will be put into a tool that will press the waste until it becomes smaller but super dense, rigid, and block-shaped. The blocks of trash will be stored temporarily and will be brought back to earth when the program is over.
3.3 – How will your Moon Camp maintain communications with Earth and other Moon bases?
It adopts the same communication system developed by NASA. The Communication and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) (main) and radio(emergency) communication system will be used by Olympus Moon Camp, to stay connected with other scientists on Earth. Communication can be done via phone calls or video conferences arranged via TDRS. The astronauts can talk to scientists through satellite phone devices or through computers connected to video conferencing systems. However, situations like bad weather or signal interference occur in one of the antennas installed on the surface of the earth or on the Ufton, then the communication signal can be interrupted, can cause communication to fail. Radio is a communication that will be used in times like this. The astronauts will be able to send and receive text messages, emails, and other data messages via radio. So, with these two communication systems, there will be no case of “lost communication”.