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 18, 19 5 / 1 English
3D design software: Fusion 360
Our campsite is built in a crater at the south pole of the moon, consisting of three main compartments, divided into a living area, a research area, a control area, and a planting area. The living area can help us relax after exhausting work, while the control area can control the entire base and establish connections with Earth or other campsites. The research area has multiple laboratories and abundant experimental equipment, which can conduct various experiments and explore unknown areas of the moon. The planting area can provide food. The meteorite defense system can protect the camp from meteorite attacks.
Our innovation lies in the ability to use the temperature difference between the moon surface and the moon soil to generate electricity, the ability to use concentrated solar energy to drive supercritical carbon dioxide cycle power generation, the ability to use the ballistic missile defense system and the Whipple Shield to resist meteorite impact, the ability to use the garbage treatment system and urine treatment subsystem to treat garbage and wastewater, and the ability to use the column hydroponics cultivation method and smart agriculture to promote plant cultivation.
Our team’s main purpose in creating a lunar camp is to conduct scientific exploration. As one of the closest celestial bodies on Earth, the moon is of great significance for human space exploration and research. By building a lunar campsite, we can prepare and develop the necessary technology and equipment in advance for future lunar missions, and explore scientific issues such as the geology, chemistry, and physical properties of the moon, laying the foundation for human exploration of space and the development of science and technology. In addition, the construction of lunar campsites can also provide a living and working base for space science researchers, facilitating their long-term space missions and better carrying out scientific exploration and technological innovation.
We plan to build our lunar base near the Eternal Daylight Zone of Kriprock on the moon, near the water ice in the Eternal Night Zone. Approximately 70% to 80% of the year here is under sunlight, and solar energy can be used to provide sufficient electricity for lunar bases. And there is water ice, which can provide water resources and rocket fuel for the base. And the temperature difference in the polar region is relatively small, which is conducive to the survival of astronauts.
Our base is mainly composed of three circular structures, as well as concentrated solar energy, rockets, radars, satellites, lunar rovers, etc. We will transport robots and other equipment to the base location in advance, collect metal elements from the lunar soil, use 3D printing technology to build the framework of the lunar camp, and then the astronauts will settle in the lunar camp to complete the construction of the interior of the camp. We collect water for oxygen production and lunar soil for base construction. We need to carry carbon, nitrogen, and other elements that are not contained in lunar soil from Earth for camp construction and plant cultivation. After completion of construction, astronauts will move into the lunar base and proceed with the next steps of planning.
In terms of basic survival needs, the base can provide astronauts with water, food, electricity, air, etc. Our lunar camp has a complete life support system to ensure that astronauts can breathe, digest food, and excrete waste, including ventilation systems, garbage disposal systems, and toilets.
When facing harsh low-temperature environments, we will use the electricity generated by thermoelectric and concentrated solar panels to heat the campsite.
When a meteorite attack occurs, the base is equipped with a Whipple Shield and a ballistic missile defense system. The Whipple Shield is composed of two aluminum plates and self-healing liquids. The ballistic missile defense system is composed of a command center, intercepting rockets, warning satellites, guidance radar, and remote detection radar, which have the ability to resist small and medium-sized meteorite impacts.
When emergency events such as base malfunctions are difficult to respond to, there are plans to respond to emergency situations, warning systems, and manned spacecraft to ensure personnel safety.
Water
In the early stage, we used the remaining hydrogen and oxygen fuel from the lunar landing equipment to produce water, and supplemented the losses in the cycle by recycling water from other fuel combustion products. In the later stage, based on the site selection of the base, water ice resources near the Kripp Rock in Antarctica will be automatically collected by lunar rovers and transported to the base for storage for use. The base adopts various water-saving devices, such as urine treatment and multi use of one water, to save water resources.
Food
Food is an important way for astronauts to obtain nutrients. We have set up a plant cultivation device on the lunar base to achieve self-sufficiency in basic vegetables and ensure the freshness of the food. We plan to plant potatoes, Arabidopsis, rapeseed, etc. And cultivate yellow mealworms in the experimental area to provide proteins for astronauts.
Energy
Our power sources include thermoelectric power generation, which utilizes the day and night temperature difference between the lunar surface and the lunar soil for power generation, and concentrated solar energy driven supercritical CO2 cycle power generation, which is more efficient than traditional solar power generation. At the same time, electricity will be stored to prevent unexpected situations.
Air
Early use of compressed oxygen brought from Earth. In the later stage, use the plant photosynthesis in the planting area and the electrolytic water device in the experimental area to supply oxygen.
Our lunar camp is equipped with a garbage disposal device and a urine treatment system.
The garbage treatment device adopts designs such as iris mechanism, pushing structure, and rolling mechanism. By cooperating with each other and adopting a gooseneck packaging method, manual contact is reduced, sealing is stronger, the possibility of garbage leakage is reduced, the volume and packaging time of the packaging system are reduced, and the collection efficiency of garbage is improved.
The urine treatment system uses a rotating steam device, which can generate water vapor at approximately 50 degrees Celsius, making it more energy-efficient. The peristaltic pump can deliver different pipelines according to different residual fluid channels in the urinary tract. And various components are detachable, convenient and fast.
Communicate through lunar communication satellites. Communication satellites are artificial satellites specifically used for satellite communication, which are used to transmit information and can help communicate between future lunar campsites and Earth, as well as between different campsites on the moon. This communication method has been widely used on Earth and is also a reliable choice for use on the moon. Raise the communication satellite to an orbit synchronized with the moon, and communicate with the lunar camp through ground stations and relay stations to achieve information transmission on the moon. In order to avoid weather and other interference, communication satellites usually have a certain self-protection mechanism. In addition, in order to ensure sufficient coverage of communication services, it may be necessary to build multiple communication satellites to achieve global connectivity on the moon.
Biology: Our lunar campsite has established a biological culture facility, which can not only supplement the daily needs of astronauts, but also study the survival characteristics of organisms in the lunar environment; And the column hydroponic cultivation method is used in plant cultivation, where planting does not require soil and water, and the sprayed nutrient solution is used to promote plant growth.
Geology: Our lunar rover at our lunar camp has automatic mining function, and the mined lunar soil is transported back to the base for geological research.
Robotics: The base is equipped with robots, which can be used for robot research and more advanced robot construction in the next step.
Physical fitness training mainly exercises the physical fitness of astronauts to resist disease attacks
Outer space adaptation training mainly cultivates the ability of astronauts to adapt to outer space survival.
Psychological health training to help astronauts develop strong psychological qualities and cope with life in space.
Training on instrument use enables astronauts to quickly and proficiently use instruments for scientific research work.
Training on handling emergencies, enabling astronauts to quickly and correctly handle emergencies and minimize losses.
Individual and team training, allowing everyone to integrate into the whole and unleash team strength.
Future lunar missions require spacecraft with high thrust and recyclable mission execution.
The lunar campsite has transportation vehicles such as small lunar rovers, large lunar rovers, and manned spacecraft. Small lunar rovers can survey the lunar surface and explore the path for large lunar rovers. Large lunar rovers can carry materials, equipment, and researchers to conduct in-depth research on the unknown lunar surface.
Shuttle to and from the moon is mainly carried out by manned spacecraft, and exploration of the lunar surface is mainly carried out by large lunar rovers.
