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.
郑州轻工业大学附属中学 河南省郑州市-金水区 China 19 3 / 1 English
3D design software: Fusion 360
The moon has characteristics such as no atmosphere, weak gravity, stable platform, and low temperature, which are suitable conditions for storing and using astronomical observation instruments. Therefore, establishing an observatory on the moon is an excellent choice. Based on these data, our team has decided to establish a lunar base for the main purpose of astronomical observation, and to establish other areas to enable astronauts to observe and live comfortably on the moon.
Telescopes on Earth are affected by the Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field, which prevents them from achieving maximum accuracy; space telescopes have improved accuracy, but they are more costly and difficult to maintain, resulting in a short lifetime. So it is very important to find a platform in space where telescopes can be built and staff can live for a long time. The Moon is the perfect choice. The purpose of the lunar camp is to use it as a lunar observatory to carry out observation activities that cannot be carried out on Earth, to observe the changes in the orbits of stars and planets and other celestial bodies, so as to derive the changes to help people better protect the Earth and explore space.
Our camp will be located in the Eternal Daylight Zone around Shackleton Crater in the Antarctic region. Site selection has the following two main advantages：
1.Yongdian District is rich in solar resources. Photovoltaic power generation can be used to convert solar energy into electrical energy, providing power for the basic operation of the base.
2.The shadow area inside the crater is rich in water resources. The exploitation and purification of lunar water ice can ensure the astronauts’ demand for water.
The camp adopts the method of sintering moon soil to make bricks and sockets, extending downward for two layers. The exposed part of the ground uses moon soil to turn the cover as the basic architectural outline. Ensure the strength of the camp building on the premise that the required area is available.
Stage 1: Earth to the moon to transport solar panels, lunar bulldozers/excavators, lunar soil melting and casting machines, remote robots, and other tools
Phase 2: Build a small photovoltaic power generation system. It is used to provide the electrical energy required for construction, and use the lunar soil melting and casting machine to burn the lunar soil into the desired shape, and use remote robots to construct the camp.
The third stage: transport various telescopes, scientific research equipment, and biological facilities to the moon, and use robots to assemble and place them.
Stage 4: Astronauts move in and carry out initial scientific research tasks.
Currently, the main dangers on the moon include: water oxygen deficiency, cosmic radiation, impact of micro meteorites, high temperature difference between day and night, and bone loss caused by low gravity. We have taken the following measures to address these issues:
Our base fully utilizes the solar and water resources of the moon. Through photovoltaic power generation systems and lunar water ice mining, this problem can be effectively solved
The outer wall of the base is sintered from lunar soil, which has certain functions of resisting meteorite impacts, insulating from cosmic radiation, and keeping warm. Astronauts can also provide spacesuits with the same functions when they go out, maximizing the safety of astronauts.
At the same time, we have equipped astronauts with a fitness room and require at least two hours of exercise every day to enhance their physique and effectively prevent bone loss.
Water: The lunar water ice in the crater is mined by the lunar rover, and can be purified before being put into daily activities. In addition, the base is also equipped with an environmental control and life support system that collects moisture, sweat, and domestic and work wastewater exhaled by astronauts through condensation and drying for purification and secondary utilization.
Food: In the early stage, it mainly relied on the Earth for supply, while planting carrots, soybeans, and other plants rich in vitamins, protein, and fat in ecological greenhouses as subsequent food sources. Meat still needs to be supplied by the Earth.
Power: The site is very rich in solar energy resources, we will use photovoltaic power generation system to convert solar energy into electricity, as the energy supply of the base. At the same time, we can extract the helium-3 separation from the lunar soil to obtain carbon and other energy sources, so that the astronauts’ lives are more secure.
Air: Oxygen can be prepared by molten electrolysis (heating these oxygen-containing substances to between 1600 and 2500 degrees Celsius and then electrifying them, the elements will be ionized and the oxygen atoms will be combined to form oxygen). This method of oxygen preparation is very efficient and abundant. It is also possible to prepare oxygen by electrolysis of water.
Inside our camp, we have an environmentally controlled biosecurity system that collects the water vapor exhaled by the astronauts through condensation and drying components, while the carbon dioxide gas produced will be collected and passed to the vegetable shed for supplying the respiration of plants.
The urine produced by the astronauts will be collected together to obtain pure water through distillation devices and gas-liquid separation devices, and part of it will be used for testing to obtain information about the astronauts’ physical condition. The manure will be processed through a series of fermentation processes to make biological fertilizer for the supply of nutrients in the vegetable greenhouse.
Our camp will adopt the same way as Chang’e-4, with an additional relay satellite on the back of the Moon as a bridge to receive communication messages between the Earth and the Moon to ensure communication at all times. A large radio telescope will be built within the camp area to receive information.
Astronomy will be the focus of research in our lunar camp, just as it was when we set up the camp, to create a lunar observatory that will provide better conditions for astronomical observations.
The establishment of an observatory on the lunar surface will provide an exceptionally detailed view of the stars and open new windows to the study of the universe. The resolution of observations on the Moon would be tens of thousands, if not 100,000 times greater than that of optical instruments on Earth. At the same time, lunar observatories will open a new window on the detectable universe at very low radio frequencies. They could even open up some new branches of astronomy through the study of gravitational waves and the elusive neutral particles of neutrinos.
So we will carry out a series of observation activities at the base that have not been or cannot be carried out on Earth, and make long-time and high-precision observations of stars and planets and other celestial bodies to obtain their changing patterns of motion and help people to better protect the Earth and explore space.
The main objectives of the training conducted by the astronauts are to
(1) to improve physical and mental fitness as well as endurance and adaptability to the special lunar environment;
(2) to equip the astronauts with the relevant instruments and the knowledge and skills of the lunar environment
(3) to familiarize the astronauts with the plans and programs for the lunar landing and with the various procedures
(4) To enable astronauts in the same team to be skilled and able to work well together and, if necessary, to perform the work of others.
To achieve the above objectives, the astronauts will be trained in four phases:
(1) Basic training stage. This phase of training focuses on basic theoretical training, the goal is to enable astronauts to master the basic knowledge required on the moon, in order to lay the foundation for the subsequent professional and technical training.
(2) professional and technical training phase. The training focuses on space experiment specialized skills training, the goal is to make the astronauts master the operational skills and professional knowledge required on the Moon. Specialized technical training has operations under normal conditions, but also malfunctions and emergency response training.
(3) Lunar Surface Mission Simulation Training. The focus is on mission simulation training. Through this phase of training, the astronauts will understand the flight plan and mission division requirements. Proficiency in the entire mission execution process.
(4) Intensive training and mission preparation phase. The focus is on participation in large joint exercises to prepare for the lunar landing and targeted intensive training of the mission team on maneuvering and flight procedures and simulated missions.
The launch vehicle will be used for the round trip between the Earth and the Moon, with a capacity of about 140 tons and a maximum takeoff thrust of 5,800 tons, which can send two new-generation manned spacecraft to the Moon at once. The launch vehicle will have a maximum takeoff thrust of 800 tons and can send two new-generation manned spacecraft to the Moon at once,
The lunar exploration vehicle will be used as the main vehicle on the Moon, which is equipped with solar panels and carries on-board radar for real-time positioning, detection and exploration to ensure that the astronauts will not get lost while out on the mission.
The destination of this mission is in the permanent daylight area outside of Shackleton Crater at the south pole of the Moon, where we will establish a lunar observatory after the exploration is completed.
