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.
Tudor Vianu National High School of Computer Science Bucharest-District 1 Romania 16, 17 5 / 5 English
3D design software: Fusion 360
Project Aphrodite is a scientific research site, located at the Moon’s south pole, near the center of one of its 4000 craters.
Our base is designed in such a way that it is easy to assemble and expand. As for its layout, for efficiency’s sake, the main structure is composed out of two floors, each consisting of several hexagonal cells placed next to one another – cells that can be stacked and linked together. These are shielded by a glass dome. We have a greenhouse for growing the necessary plants that ensure our astronauts’ survival, as well as rovers to aid the Moon’s inhabitants.
Our main purpose is to demonstrate that people can actually spend a lifetime on Earth’s satellite, as well as to facilitate scientific research. Since the moon has never been subject to weathering and erosion, it has preserved evidence of the origin of the evolution of the solar system, which we seek to understand. Moreover, our natural satellite is a stepping stone to further ventures. Building infrastructures on the moon will facilitate travel to destinations such as Mars.
After taking into consideration both the efficiency and the safety of the astronauts, we concluded that the most favorable location for our moon base would be Shackleton crater. With a basin of over 12 km depth and a diameter of 20 km, this crater is situated within the rim of the South Pole-Aitken basin. Despite its unassuming appearance, it has a lot of advantages, such as the dichotomy between the parts of the crater rim which enjoy nearly year-round sunshine and the crater bottom which is always dark. Further exploration of its properties could provide useful data about the lunar interior.
The base is made out of 3D printed cells that can be carried with ease and merged together. The inspiration behind their hexagonal shape was the structure of a honeycomb, being the strongest shape, which is why it is so prevalent in nature. It is able to hold a lot of weight, while not taking up much space (as per the Honeycomb Conjecture). The cells have lunar concrete as their raw material. It is an aggregate similar to concrete, it is non-porous, strong and does not require water, which is in short supply on the moon. Moreover, it is strong, durable and has great shielding properties. Glass products can be used as well, while iron and nickel can make for electrical conductors. As for the gear, we will use dirt-moving equipment necessary for habitat excavation, as well as for transporting feedstocks to smelting or manufacturing sites and removing waste.
Anchored to the bedrock, there is a two to three meters thick, exterior S-glass dome that protects the rooms, greenhouse, O2, H2O and H2 tanks, built by machines without recourse to human control. Said glass is manufactured in layers to enable thermal stress control. At all times, there is at least one awake crew member, and everything is being closely monitored in permanence. All maintenance is done autonomously, as well. In the case of any breach, there are strict safety protocols in place.
In craters, where light does not reach, there are ice deposits – this will be our main water source. A rover will be sent to mine and gather ice, which will later be melted using furnaces. We will also be reusing the water from urine, sweat and air. It will be kept bacteria-free with the help of new purification technology based on silver ions.
Following experiments led by a team of researchers from the University of Florida, it was concluded that despite the differences between regolith and Earth soil – with its sharp particles and lack of organic material – lunar soil can be indeed used to grow plants in. Therefore, it’s possible to cultivate most kinds of herbs and vegetables, for a balanced diet. In the case of an emergency, there will always be spare food in our storage.
While at first they will have to use the compressed air brought from Earth, it is way too expensive for them to be able to do that for the rest of the settlement’s usage. Hydrogen can be found in the ice present in deep craters, and then used for the electrolysis of water to obtain oxygen. Chlorella Vulgaris, a species of micro-algae, could potentially be used in O2 production as well.
The primary source of power consists of the solar panels. They will generate direct current electricity. The sunlight will reach them more effectively than it would have on Earth, due to the permanently clear lunar sky. In order to benefit from electricity at night, the solar panels will charge batteries during the day. We can also use lunar regolith to store heat. Although it is quite costly, Helium-3, which is abundant on the moon, is able to fuel non-radioactive nuclear fusion reactions, which produce large quantities of efficient energy.
We intend to rid ourselves of the astronauts’ waste in an efficient way. The OSCAR project is the solution that we’ve settled on. Its aim is to convert trash and human waste into syngas, a combination of useful gasses such as methane, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. This technology involves processing small pieces of waste in a high-temperature reactor, enabling the reuse of discarded materials during long duration, deep space missions. By implementing this, mission mass can be reduced, usable spacecraft and habitat volume can be increased, and mission reliability and robustness can be improved.This process is crucial in achieving a closed-loop system for human spaceflight, as it allows for a reduction in logistical requirements and enables the re-utilization of materials.
There are a few ways in which we intend to maintain communications with Earth and other Moon bases. The best way is through laser communication since laser beams are more focused and require less power to carry information over long distances. This technique has been tested by NASA’s Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration, deeming it feasible. Another way would be through direct communication, using radio waves. This is a practical way because NASA’s Deep Space Network has three antennas around Earth that receive and send messages to the South Pole of the Moon. These antennas are located in California, Spain, and Australia. Lastly, we intend to use satellites, since they can provide uninterrupted communication, handle large amounts of data, and transmit real-time signals.
For developing sustainable life support systems for human exploration on the Moon conducting essential bioreactor studies are needed. Bioreactors are closed-loop systems that utilize biological processes to produce oxygen and food for astronauts while recycling waste. Precise control of temperature, humidity, and nutrient levels is crucial for bioreactor performance, and experiments to optimize these variables in a lunar environment can improve their efficiency.
We also plan on looking into ways in which we could raise a bee colony. Since the insects are the world’s most important pollinators, it is reasonable to assume that they could have a crucial part to play in establishing sustainable agriculture for extended space missions. While honeybees are incapable of flying in atmospheric pressures below approximately 66.5 kilopascals, a study conducted by researchers at the University of Guelph in Ontario revealed that common eastern bumble bees (Bombus impatiens) can still effectively pollinate at 52 kilopascals – NASA’s recommended pressure for extraterrestrial greenhouses (it is easier to maintain than the 101 kilopascals present at sea level on Earth, yet sufficient for plants to thrive). Therefore, we will be attempting to bring said bumblebees with us. Perhaps with their help, in the near future we can lay the foundations of a real ecosystem on the moon.
Apart from instructing astronauts on complex and specialized flight vehicles, equipment, and suits, trainers must create a simulation of the microgravity working conditions to ensure the astronauts are adequately prepared. In order to prevent motion sickness caused during shuttle launch and landing, the pilot astronauts train in a Gulfstream jet aircraft specially modified to simulate vibration, noises and views. As for adjusting to the actual lifestyle on the Moon, astronauts go through simulators that can fluctuate temperature from -20 degree centigrade to 60 degrees, as well as ones that are capable of generating pressures that are six times greater than the standard atmospheric pressure (equivalent to a depth of 60 meters in seawater) and can even replicate the pressure conditions at an altitude of 100,000 feet, which is often considered the threshold of outer space. Furthermore, dry flotation simulators can replicate microgravity and astronauts undergo training in centrifuges and centrifuge-based simulators to enhance their ability to withstand G-forces. Astronauts practice spacewalks underwater in a large swimming pool. They spend between 7 and 10 hours under water for every hour they will spend walking in space.
In our Moon settlement, we have a multitude of rovers. They are made out of aluminum and have three wheels for better stability. The cockpit is made entirely out of glass in order to offer full visibility for the driver. Additionally, our rovers have a drilling appendage with the purpose of extracting scientific samples that will be further analyzed by the scientists within the camp. Traveling to and from Earth will be made with the help of advanced spaceships. These will need to have the following: aerodynamic design, modular construction for flexibility in design, heat shields for heat and damage protection, docking ports, radiation shielding intended to protect the electronics and crew, and a propulsion system. In the future, we plan on using balloons to explore the atmosphere of the Moon even further.
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