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.
First experimental public school Tbilisi-Tbilisi Georgia 16, 15 4 / 3 English
3D design software: Fusion 360
“Lunarix” is embarking on an exciting project to establish a moon camp on the south side of the moon, on Shackleton Crater. The primary focus of the project is to conduct scientific research and exploration of this unique lunar region. The team of astronauts stationed at the moon camp will conduct a wide range of experiments and studies to unlock the mysteries of the moon and expand our understanding of its properties.
One of the key objectives of the Lunarix project is to conduct in-depth research on the moon’s geology, including its soils and rock formations, to better understand its composition and origin. This research will help us gain a deeper understanding of the moon’s geological history and provide insights into the formation of our solar system.
The “Lunarix” team will also be studying the moon’s atmosphere, conducting experiments to learn more about its nature and characteristics. This research will help us better understand the moon’s environment and how it might impact future lunar missions and human activities.
In addition to scientific research, the “Lunarix” moon camp project will also involve providing all necessary living needs for astronauts.
Our moon camp is going to be dedicated mostly to scientific research. Traveling to the moon temporarily without a base makes it difficult to carry out the research. Building a camp on the moon may seem costly but in reality, frequently visiting the moon for studies will cost more in the long run. So building this space for astronauts and scientists will make it possible to conduct long-term research right there and then. Studies will move forward in short periods. Even though at first it will mostly be dedicated to widening our knowledge about the moon, we think it has the potential to be a popular place for tourists. Making this camp a Tourist place will also cover the costs of building it.
We chose Shackleton crater, because it has permanent light darkness. It offers both these extremes in one place: Portions of the crater rim remain in almost year-round sunlight, while the crater floor is permanently dark. The Moon is a place with essentially no atmosphere and no liquid water, so visiting astronauts must bring all of their consumables along — a heavy and therefore expensive undertaking.
But unmanned spacecraft have provided good evidence for ice deposits within Shackleton’s shadowed interior — preserved from evaporation by the extraordinarily low temperatures there, so it is possible and important as well to use that resource to gain and than filter the water on the moon.
Sunlight is also important for the electricity it can provide. Space exploration requires electricity, and while we can bring that energy from Earth, generating it in situ using solar panels (as on the International Space Station) is preferable.
Building a camp on the Moon must be planned carefully. It is important to keep every single individual on the camp safe, thus the camp must be built in the right location, with the right materials. Moon camp could be built using different kinds of methods. Firstly to minimize the waste we will use 3D printing technology. 3D printing technology could be utilized to construct the camp. The regolith can be used as printing material, or we can cool down the melted dust and soil and turn it into obsidian. Moon’s regolith also will be used to build walls for radiation shielding. Oxygen and hydrogen can be extracted from Moon’s soil and used for life support and fuel.
As a team dedicated to exploration and scientific research, Lunarix understands the crucial importance of ensuring the safety of our astronauts at the moon camp.
The material used in building in moon camp will be able to withstand the harsh lunar environment, including extreme temperature fluctuations, micrometeorite impacts, and radiation exposure.
Astronauts will have specialized equipment for mobility outside the camp, including rovers, lunar buggies, and tools for excavation and sample collection. EVA (Extravehicular Activity) suits will be used. to protect astronauts from the vacuum of space and provide life support. These suits will have radiation shielding, temperature regulation, and durable construction to withstand the abrasive lunar soil.
Inside the camp, the air will be filtered to remove any lunar dust particles, but astronauts will need to wear masks with appropriate filters depending on the air quality.
To prevent harmful airs from entering the moon camp, several precautions will be taken during the construction process. Airtight construction techniques will be employed to ensure that there are no gaps or leaks in the camp’s structure.
We’ll be considering to minimize dust infiltration from the lunar surface, so we’ll be implementing proper airlocks and decontamination procedures for astronauts entering and exiting the camp.
The lunar surface is exposed to higher levels of radiation compared to Earth, including solar and cosmic radiation. Therefore, the camp will be designed with radiation shielding materials, such as thick layers of regolith or other radiation-absorbing materials, to protect astronauts from harmful radiation.
We’ll be equipped with backup power systems, redundant life support systems, and emergency protocols to ensure the safety in case of any unforeseen events.
Water
First, we will transport water from the earth with us. But we will need much more of it on the moon to keep everyone and everything going fine of course. So we will use the ice to produce the water. As a result of ice melting, we will get the liquid, then filter it and gain the drinkable and usable water.
We will use electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen and use them as well.
Food
Feeding people at moon camp would require resourceful solutions due to lack of resources on the moon. One of the best options could be to grow crops using hydroponic, Biological waste based systems next to the greenhouse modules, but before that we can take pre-packed, thermostabilized, freezed food on the moon. The food should be enough before the camp starts growing fruits and vegetables on its own.
Power
The optimal approach to generate electricity on the moon would be through solar panels.
By utilizing a regolith-based 3D printer we can manufacture solar panels using lunar materials and resources. This would significantly reduce the need for transporting fully assembled solar panels from Earth. This approach could provide a sustainable source of electricity for the astronauts daily needs, rover operations, and technological requirements, reducing the reliance on Earth-based resources.
Air
Undoubtedly air is the most important and necessary resource. New research shows that lunar soil contains active compounds that can convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and fuels. During Apollo program studies the University of Florida reported that they had successfully grown plants from seeds planted in Moon samples which means it is possible to have a greenhouse within the moon camp and with help of blue lights and water resources we’ll obtain from ice deposits within Shackleton’s shadowed interior.
Waste on the moon can become a hassle while living there. Reports from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) say that humans have left about 500,000 pounds of garbage on the moon. Since bringing back unimportant equipment and the waste astronauts will produce while living there would be inconvenient and difficult, The solution to this is digging up the moon soil and burying the waste. NASA is currently working on RASSOR.
RASSOR is a moon mining robot that will make digging through moon soil and regolith possible. Whilst The goal of these excavators is to transport the regolith to a lunar-based processing plant and extract hydrogen, oxygen and water that can be used on life support systems for astronauts on the moon, it will also help make the space for the waste.
Operators at Deep Space Network will take commands, break them into digital bits, aim the radio antennas at the spacecraft and send those commands with radio waves.
We know that the moon itself blocks radio signals, preventing communication when it comes between Earth and any spacecraft. But we also know that the Lander and Rover can communicate with us with the relay satellite, Queqiao, which has a communication path to the ground radio telescope station on Earth and we will use them on the moon. By means of their help, we will be able to get as well as send the information from the earth to the moon and back.
Astronauts will communicate with each other in space when they are spacewalking through the use of radio waves. Radio wave signal will be sent to their headsets which then will be translate the signal into the form of sound
We don’t know so many things about the moon. So our mission will be to discover as many things as we can. We will make scientific research in biology, geology and about gravity for this reason. At first, we are planning to explore the minerals that exist on the moon, particularly at the south part of it, because the camp will be there. We want to know which chemical elements the moon land contains and what properties do they have, if they are useful for growing plants there and stuff like that. In addition to minerals and chemical elements, we want to discover the dark side of the moon. As we know, the moon faces Earth with only one side so it is more studied, than the other, dark side of it. So we want to explore so many things about that unknown, mystery side.
We all know that it is essential to train astronauts, before they go to space and live there for so long, far away from oxygen, water, stable temperature and the green lands.
Astronaut candidates will attend classes on shuttle systems, in science and technology: geology, mathematics, physics, meteorology, guidance and navigation, oceanography, orbital dynamics, astronomy and materials processing. Candidates also receive training in land and sea survival training, scuba diving and space suits. Consequently, all Candidates will be required to pass a swimming test during their first month of training. The astronauts will begin their formal space transportation system training program by reading manuals and by taking computer-based training lessons on the various Orbiter systems ranging from propulsion to environmental control. They will train in the Virtual Reality Laboratory, which will immerse them in a computer-generated microgravity environment.
They will get to know everything about the moon that is known for humanity. Astronauts will learn much more about the different minerals, water on the moon, temperature, the moon winds and blizzards. they will get to know the technologies, and every detail of how to use them on the moon. They will meet other astronauts and listen to their stories and advice, that will help them to feel things a little deeper. Every single activity we have mentioned above will make future “Moon People” prepared, knowledgeable and adapted to the environment.
With SpaceX’s FLEX technology, our team will utilize rovers that are specifically designed for lunar exploration. These rovers have advanced mobility capabilities, allowing astronauts to move swiftly and safely across the moon’s surface. They are equipped with high payload capacity, enabling them to carry heavy equipment, supplies, and scientific instruments. Additionally, FLEX rovers have autonomous features, reducing the need for constant astronaut supervision and allowing for efficient transportation between different locations on the moon. These rovers are powered by rechargeable batteries that can be charged using solar panels, which are abundant on the moon’s surface.
