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.
Shanghai Qingpu Senior High School Shanghai-Qingpu China 15, 16 6 / 1 English
3D design software: Fusion 360
Since ancient times, human beings have imagined the mysterious sky for countless times, looking forward to the endless stars.We have not given up the exploration of the future. And setting up a camp on the moon would be the first real step into deep space.
The name of our Camp is Moon Precedent Camp, which means it’s the first precedent in the world.
On the moon camp, we will provide astronauts with a complete living camp, a more convenient environment for scientific research activities, and create scientific value through the exploration of the moon’s geology.
Scientific research is the use of lunar resources. The broad lunar resources include location resources, environment resources and material resources. Location resources refer to the unique position and operation law of the moon relative to the earth. For example, one side of the moon always faces the Earth, which is very conducive to uninterrupted earth observation. The other side always faces away from Earth, and the electromagnetic environment is very “quiet”, which is suitable for scientific exploration activities such as radio astronomy observation. Environmental resources refer to the moon’s unique environmental features such as high vacuum, low gravity, weak magnetic field, large temperature difference and high radiation, which can be used for specific scientific experiments and material manufacturing. Lunar material resources mainly include mineral resources and energy resources. Mineral resources include titanium, iron, chromium, nickel and other metallic mineral resources, non-metallic mineral resources such as lunar soil, basalt and low concentration volatiles (H, He, C, N), oxygen resources and meteorite resources. Energy resources include helium-3 resources, water ice resources and solar energy resources. Lunar exploration, as the first step of deep space exploration, will help us to further explore deep space after building a complete base on the moon.
We decided to build Moon Camp in Shackleton Area for two reasons. First, there is a high probability that the underground permafrost will be able to utilize water resources, which will sustain the crew’s drinking problem for a long time and even build a self-sustaining water recycling system. The second reason is that the annual illumination time in this area accounts for more than 70%, which can convert solar energy into electric energy.
We intend to set up a lunar camp in the Shackleton area of the Moon, where there is abundant water and lunar soil to supply construction and living needs. I need to rocket a 3d printer and a lunar rover from Earth. The rover digs up the soil. The 3d printer printed layers of lunar soil to complete the main structure. The internal machinery such as nuclear reactors and circulators were transported to the moon after being built on Earth.
The harsh environment of the moon mainly has three problems: temperature, radiation and air.
The shell of the camp will adopt a multi-layer structure, with bionic devices inside and outside, similar in appearance to the shutters of weather stations. The rotating part is equipped with a kind of metal wire that expands and contracts with the cold. When the light temperature exceeds the standard, the metal wire will expand under the heat, causing the blades to open, and the surface with high radiation and heat dissipation capacity will be oriented towards space. When the light temperature drops rapidly, the wires shrink immediately when they get cold, making each blade tightly closed and suppressing the satellite’s heat dissipation.
The outer layers will be metal-aluminum shielded from radiation, and the rest will be ceramic or macromolecular materials filled with protium between layers.
Finally, multiple air locks will be installed indoors in case of insufficient air supply.
In addition, the base will be protected by a dome, so that in the event of an undefensible meteorite strike, we can still head to Perry Crater for shelter, and then return to rebuild the camp.
water
Human daily life water discharge is divided into urine, feces water, skin evaporation, respiratory tract discharge water. The former is transported to the planting area by the down pipe of the toilet, which is dried, crushed, added with starter culture and fermentation to form organic fertilizer for plant growth. The excess sewage will be transported to the energy area and purified into domestic water in the water treatment module. At the same time, in the extreme shortage of water, can collect the moon’s underground water.
food
The planting area was set up, sunlight or lights were used to restore the lighting environment and simulate the temperature and pressure suitable for plant growth. Quinoa, sweet potato and potato were selected as the main sources of carbohydrates and proteins, while tomatoes, cucumbers and carrots were supplemented with various vitamins, dietary fibers and trace elements.
energy
The electricity mainly comes from the nuclear reaction power generation and solar power generation in the energy area. The nuclear reaction power generation supplies the scientific research area, the lunar rover and other energy-consuming instruments. The solar energy ensures the stability of the electricity consumption in daily life.
oxygen
Carbon dioxide emitted by human respiration is transported to the planting area through the ventilation system of each area for oxygen exchange.
The waste from the moon camp will be treated according to different properties. Domestic waste: excrement, kitchen waste, will be transported to the growing area to fertilize the plants. The wastewater will be partially irrigated on the plants and partially entered into the water treatment components: sterilization components, multilayer filtration components and volatiles removal, purification into clean water. Other waste will be reused, and some that can’t be disposed of will be transported by rover to distant landfills.
The astronauts carried VHF radios to transmit sound and biosensor data from their spacesuits to the Lunar Encampment Communications system, which sent signals back to Earth in the S-band, an ultra-high frequency band that can penetrate the Earth’s ionosphere without deflecting or reflecting, and is widely used in space. And to ensure that the lunar camp on the far side of the moon is not in direct contact with Earth, we will send a relay satellite to orbit the Lagrange point L2 on the landing moon, ensuring real-time communication with Earth and the far side of the moon.
The scientific themes of our moon camp were geology and robotics. The lunar material resources mainly include mineral resources and energy resources. Mineral resources include titanium, iron, chromium, nickel and other metallic mineral resources, non-metallic mineral resources such as lunar soil, basalt and low concentration volatiles (H, He, C, N), oxygen resources and meteorite resources. Energy resources include helium-3 resources, water ice resources and solar energy resources. As an important supplement to Earth resources, lunar resources have a far-reaching impact on the sustainable development of human society. The material resources on the moon are so rich that it is necessary to conduct geological research on the moon to analyze the moon. At the same time, the moon’s unique environmental resources, such as high vacuum, low gravity, weak magnetic field, large temperature difference, high radiation and other environmental characteristics, can be used for specific scientific experiments and material manufacturing. We will also conduct robotics research to help the lunar camp better accommodate living, production, research and other activities.
The astronaut training program will include:
Physical training: It is inevitable to carry out a variety of activities on the moon, so to ensure adequate physical ability to meet a series of challenges and tasks on the moon.
Mental training: There will only be a few people on the moon, so this training is needed to help astronauts first overcome their fear of unknown outer space and fear of being alone on the moon.
Special Environmental factors Endurance and adaptability training: the moon’s gravity and other environmental factors are different from the earth, so this training is needed to prevent astronauts from adverse reactions to the moon resulting in life risks
Survival training: improve the survival ability of astronauts and their ability to survive in dangerous situations
Spacecraft technology training: ensure the safe arrival of astronauts to the moon and safe return to the Earth
Medical knowledge training: to a certain extent, astronauts can ensure the physical health and avoid large and small diseases
A spaceship that an astronaut can return to Earth and back, a rocket that carries supplies during that time.
The exploration rover examines the lunar surface, has surveying equipment and video communication equipment, finds resources and transmits signals. The small, wheel-legged, solar-powered manned lunar rover carries excavators to the site to dig up soil and then bring it back for research or to build houses. Wheeled solar energy, cameras mounted on the top, robotic acquisition on the top, supplies stored under the car and equipment stored in the trunk.
