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.
Colegiul Național „Mihai Eminescu” Suceava-Suceava Romania 16 2 / 0 English
3D design software: Fusion 360
Our base has a modular structure that can support a team of up to ten astronauts, whose main purpose is to extract and process lunar dust to dig out useful materials, another purpose of our settlement would be to observe and analyse the Universe with radio telescopes.
Our settlement’s innovative design allows for easy expansion, with additional modules being added as needed to support larger teams and increase productivity. The modular design also allows for efficient use of resources, with each module being optimized for specific functions.
In addition to lunar dust extraction and processing, our base will contain an radio telescope, which is going to allow us to observe and analyze the Universe from the Moon. This will be a major breakthrough in our understanding of the cosmos, as the absence of Earth’s atmosphere will provide superior clarity and precision in our observations. Our lunar settlement is a step forward in space exploration, opening up new opportunities for scientific discovery and resource utilization. We aim to continue pushing the boundaries of human exploration and knowledge, and we hope that our modular base will be an important part of that journey.
The primary objective of our Moon base is to enable interplanetary travel and exploatation. The Moon contains a wealth of resources, including water, which can be used for fuel and life support, which will help as to be self-sufficient.
Our base will mainly focus on extracting resources like rare ores and rocks, but also Helium-3, which could be used for a variety of purposes on Earth, such as: cryogenics,medical imaging and nuclear fuel.
A technical component of our settlement is the digging robots, which excavate and collect rock samples. We will also have an auxiliary fleet of transport robots that can transport these materials to processing facilities or transport them to a central warehouse. Once the materials have been extracted, we will need to process them in the final step to separate the valuable components.
We chose to build our base in Mare Nectaris, more precisely in the souther quadrant of Mare Nectaris. This region was identified as a suitable location for our base for these reasons:
We will manufacture our space modules on Earth because the structure of the base allows us a certain flexibility. First, a number of robots will land on the base site with the Orion spacecraft to remove regolith for settlement construction to create better stability. After completion of this phase, the technical modules (garage, laboratory, warehouse) and the central module will arrive at the work site of the logistics centre in Mare Nectaris. In the next stage are going to come up the other two living modules and the 3D printer ,which is going to print the tunels that connects the facilities.
After this two stages are completed , on the lunar surface will arrive the astronauts with a supply of basic needs (water, oxygen and food). With their arrival the mission begin ,the robots will start digging and we will extract what is valuable. Also we are going to start the production of water and oxygen.
Considering the extreme conditions of the Moon, we will use aluminium as the main material for construction because of high quality metal profiles / structures / building enclosure systems that can be made out of it and because of its low density, which makes it one of the most efficient materials.
The Moon’s environment is extremely harsh, with temperatures that can range from -173°C to 127°C, a lack of atmosphere, high levels of radiation, and frequent micrometeorite impacts. Therefore, our Moon Camp is designed to protect astronauts from this specific condition of the lunar environment.
One way to protect astronauts is to build a habitat that can withstand extreme temperatures and radiation. The habitat is going to be made out of 4 layers, dispensed in the following order:
Vertical wall section : Outside /Nickel/ Aluminum Shild/ Aluminum Polyimide (H-Film) / Aluminum Polyimide (Mylar) / Aluminium /Aerogel/ Reinforced Carbon Carbon/ Inside .
In adition ,we must provide to the astronauts a breathable environment inside the base . We will extract oxygen from lunar dust and distribute it along the settlement whenever it is needed, to avoid the loses of this precious gas we will monitors if a room is being occupied or not.
Futhermore, the Moon Camp will have a radiation shield to protect the astronauts from the high levels of radiation on the Moon. Aside the materials we are going to use, we will also add a final layer of regolith on top so that we will have more protection.
Our Moon Camp situated in an hostile environment will achive its purpose besides its construction,materials,etc. with the help of radio telescopes that observes the Universe.
Water
We will obtain water from the regolith present at the South Pole, especially form Clavius crater, because it is the closest place to us and is abundant in water, containing approximately 0,34 litres per one cubic meter of lunar dust. We are going to transport it to the settlement where it is processed and then distributed to the astronauts.
Food
The food will be brought from Earth on the Moon’s surface using the Orion Space Shuttle in pre-packaged food form that has a long shelf-life and is well-suited for space travel. These type of food is designed to withstand the rigors of space travel, including extreme temperatures and changes in pressure. To further ensure the safety and quality of the food, it could be packaged in special containers that are designed to maintain a stable temperature and protect the contents from contamination.
Power
We will provide power to our base using an circular solar farm , that will store the energy collected into a battery storage system that will be used during the nights or in case of an emergency situation. Because there is no atmosphere on the Moon, solar radiation is captured much more efficiently than on Earth, which can give us a comparative energy advantage. As for the protection of the assembly, the panels will be coated with steel oxides to provide additional resistance against micro impacts.
Air
We are going to extract oxygen from the regolith, because it contains approximately 45% O2. In the process of extraction we will use an sabatier and an electrolysis process to obtain the resource in the laboratory from where it is distributed all along the settlement at certain hours to avoid gas leaks.
Knowing how important life support systems are in space, we must recycle vital resources at a maximum yield. Firstly ,we are going to recycle the water waste form the kitchen and bathrooms facilities and distilate it before distribute it to the astronauts. Also to save more water we are going to recycle the urine due to its high water composition. Another resource that we will recycle is oxygen. We will distribute it via pipes and we are going to monitorise whether a room is occupied or not to deliver the gas and to avoid losses.
Satellites and antennas will be a important component for communication between our moon base and Earth. By using satellites in orbit around the Moon and a few S-Band antennas, we can establish a reliable communication network that allows for almsot real-time data transmission, voice communication, and video conferencing.
To ensure that the communication system operates effectively, we will carefully build and mantain these. This includes selecting the appropriate ground stations, developing reliable communication protocols, and establishing a robust power source. Additionally, the satellite network will be able to withstand the harsh conditions of space and be able to operate without significant maintenance for extended periods.
Overall, the use of satellites and antennas will be important for our moon base so that it is a sustainable and successful lunar settlement, and we will need to invest in developing and maintaining this technology to ensure its long-term viability.
According to our mission statement, our main goal for establishing a settlement on the Moon is to exploit its valuable resources, which include helium-3 and rare Earth metals. Helium-3 is an isotope with various applications in nuclear fusion, medicine, and cryogenics. Meanwhile, rare Earth metals are essential components in high technology devices such as digital cameras, smartphones, and computer monitors. These resources can be extracted from the Moon’s regolith and transported to Earth for sale.
Apart from resource exploitation, our Moon camp will also serve as an astronomy base. Due to the lack of pollution and atmosphere, the Moon offers a unique opportunity to study the Universe using giant radiotelescopes. Our team will include an astrophysicist who will oversee the radiotelescope and transmit their observations back to Earth.
Furthermore, the Moon’s microgravity environment provides a unique opportunity to study the long-term effects of low gravity on the human body. By conducting research on the impact of low gravity on the human body, we hope to learn how to manage life in such a hostile environment.
To achieve our goals, we will need a highly trained and specialized team of scientists and engineers. The team will work together to establish a self-sufficient settlement on the Moon that can sustain human life for long periods. This will require careful planning and the development of innovative technologies to ensure that our team can survive and thrive on the Moon.
In conclusion, our settlement on the Moon has multiple purposes. Our primary goal is to mine the Moon’s resources, including helium-3 and rare Earth metals which have significant commercial and industrial applications.
Additionally, we will use the Moon as a base for astronomical research, taking advantage of its pristine environment to study the Universe in unprecedented detail. Finally, we will conduct research on the long-term effects of low gravity on the human body, a critical aspect of preparing for future space exploration and colonization. Ultimately, our mission to the Moon represents an important step towards the exploration and utilization of space resources, which will be essential for the continued progress and advancement of humanity.
The training program for our Moon mission would need to prepare the astronauts for the unique challenges and conditions they will face during their mission. Here are some components that could be included in an astronaut training program for our Moon mission:
Physical Fitness: Astronauts must maintain excellent physical health and stamina to perform their duties in space. A rigorous exercise program that includes physical exercises would be necessary to keep them healthy.
Environmental Training: Astronauts will be exposed to unique environmental factors on the Moon, such as extreme temperature variations, low gravity, and a lack of atmospheric pressure.
Robotics Training: The use of robots will be essential to the success of our Moon mission. Astronauts would need to be trained on how to operate, maintain, and repair robotic systems for resource extraction, transportation, and processing.
Emergency Procedures: In case of emergencies, astronauts must be trained in emergency procedures, such as responding to equipment failures, medical emergencies, evacuation rules and manual maintenance procedures in extreme conditions of total failure .
Psychological Training: Astronauts will spend extended periods in a confined and isolated environment,for almost six months , which can lead to psychological stress. Training in stress management techniques, team building, and communication skills would be necessary to maintain the mental and emotional health of the astronauts.
The space vehicles that are going to be used during our Moon mission are rovers and robots but also Orion space shuttle with which we are going to transport cargo to build the settlement and to bring the astronauts. The rover’s fleet is comprised of:
Cargo rover which transports regolith to the lab or cargo from space shuttle.
Rover for crew, it has a capacity for up to two astronauts.It can travel long distance being equipped with solar panels and batteries and also basic life support.
Mining rover for regolith
Maintenance robot for rover’s or installations reparations.
