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.
The Kingston Academy Kingston upon Thames-Surrey United Kingdom 17, 16 6 / 1 English
3D design software: Blender
This project is aimed to test a self sustained base for 6 astronauts. The main experiments of this mission are the investigation of the solar wind effects on the lunar surface as well as growing GM crops cultured for extreme habitats. Our research has included recently published scientific journals exploring present and foreseen developments in advanced robotics, In Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU) and material science. Our base will serve as a stepping stone towards future research and planned missions on both the lunar and martian surface in line with ESA and NASA goals to return humans to Moon and Mars in the near future. Our base will primarily focus on research goals however there is scope for commercial projects such as the extraction of rare earth metals to be exported to Earth for profit, generating a sustainable lunar economy to encourage future investment in research on the Moon.
The central purpose of the base is simply to serve as a proof-of-concept for the creation of a self-sufficient base which could be used on another celestial body in the future.
As the completely non-existent atmosphere in the moon is very close to the low-atmosphere of planets such as Mars – at about ≈0.02 kg/m3 which is almost negligible – we will also be investigating the effects of Solar Wind. Through the Solar Wind iOn Reading Device (or SWORD), we will be monitoring patterns of Solar Wind collisions against the moon, such that we can review the effects of solar wind which may be necessary to know for future projects on other celestial bodies.
SWORD is designed based on the “Solar Orbiting Heliospheric imager”, or “SoloHi”. It uses six separate internal sensors to observe solar activity and release, and a pair of sensors measuring plasma and magnetic fields.
The base is going to be built on the rim of the Amundsen crater. It will be located on a far smaller crater, which is located directly next to the Amundsen crater.
The 3d design of the base uses a heat-map of this unnamed crater, which is designed to scale.
The coordinates of this crater is 84.5°S 82.8°E.
The point of using a smaller crater is to allow us to build multiple layers of elevation below the ground with far less effort.
According to NASA and ESA imaging scans of the moon, water (in the form of lunar ice) has been located in and around the crater. Furthermore, according to NASA reports, the location has been determined to have almost completely constant exposure to incident sunlight.
Our base will begin construction as an unmanned mission – ahead of the astronauts landing. Using robotics controlled from the ESA, we will be constructing a basic framework which will serve as temporary living quarters for the astronauts before the base is fully set up.
After this initial construction phase, the astronauts will inhabit this basic framework as we 3D print parts to continue constructing the rooms both manually and assisted by robotics. One challenge of this would be constructing the underground areas of the base, which will require significant digging work. This will be dug into the side of the crater.
The walls of the base will be built in a three-layered system, and we will be using three materials for this:
1) The innermost layer is a layer of Polyvinylidene Fluoride – a non-reactive, thermally stable thermoplastic. Despite its strength, the plastic is very light, and thus high quantities can be transferred at once without incurring significant extra costs to the space flight.
2) The middle layer would be a relatively thin carbon-fibre + silicon lattice which is very light, and incredibly malleable making it a useful material with high utility. As a light and thin material, it is very space-efficient for transportation in bulk.
3) The outermost layer would be constructed with 3D printed lunar regolith, collected from the surface by Talaria drones. We can mix this similarly to concrete to create a regolith concrete layer to coat the outside of the base.
To protect the astronauts from physical impacts, we will employ two specific materials in our design: A thin yet flexible carbon-fibre and silicon lattice will be layered between the walls to protect from physical impacts. The flexible nature of the carbon fibre grants it a cushioning effect – significantly increasing the impact time of a micrometeorite and thus significantly decreasing the force exerted. This reduces the risk of a micrometeorite breaching a room. Furthermore, the carbon-fibre lattice is conductive, and thus can be used as a sensor to detect any potential damage to the base. As much of the base is below surface level, it also bears natural protection from the ground above it.
In regards to a room being breached, the ventilation system of the base is designed to automatically close off a room upon the sensors woven into the carbon fibre lattice being triggered. This means that a compromised room will not lose oxygen and the oxygen supply of the base will remain stable. Furthermore, the miniaturised photo-bioreactor present in most rooms will provide backup oxygen in the case of the ventilation system failing.
To protect from UV radiation, the inner walls of the base are constructed from the UV resistant plastic Polyvinylidene Fluoride. This plastic is both incredibly strong (suffering about 0.3% wear across 5 years of constant use) but also UV resistant, preventing the astronauts from being afflicted by the harmful penetrative UV radiation.
Water
Water will be used in a closed system. Using the algae farms and small amounts of chemical treatments, we will be constantly purifying water to keep it potable. Additional water to add to the stores will be obtained from lunar ice, which we can melt down to extract water from. The water must be made potable by filtering out harmful lunar regolith, which may be trapped inside the ice.
Food
Food will initially be used from stores of dehydrated food that will come with the astronauts. This will allow them a grace period before self-sufficiency kicks in. Once the farming is set up, and the harvests begin to come in, the majority of food will be coming in from farming the GM crop and the fish from the aquaponics system. Farming will use the aquaponic system, where fish and plants work in symbiosis, the plants purifying the fish’s water, and the fish providing CO2. There are some additional dehydrated food as back up.
Air
Oxygen in the base will be sourced from the algae farm. The algae – Chlorella Vulgaris – will consume the Co2 pumped through the farm and use it to photosynthesise, releasing oxygen. Excess oxygen is stored in the tanks, filling them with oxygen that can be used in an emergency.
Conditions such as humidity and pressure will be closely monitored and can be adjusted manually.
Power:
Solar panels would convert sunlight into electricity, while solar thermal technology could be used to heat water or other fluids for various purposes, such as generating steam for electricity or providing heat for habitats. By utilising these renewable energy sources, we can reduce the need for costly and unreliable alternatives, such as fossil fuels or nuclear power, and promote a more sustainable future for lunar exploration and settlement.
Solid waste will be moved through the plumbing system into the farm building. In the farm building, coprophagous worms will devour solid waste, which can then be used in the production of bio-concrete. All solid waste will be passed through this system, so there is no need for any other means of disposal. However, we can also use the solid waste in fertilising the farms when it is necessary. The worms can also be used to feed the fish in the aquaponic system.
Liquid waste will be passed through the algal farm. As the liquid waste passes through the algae pipes, the algae will remove all nitrogenous waste from it including harmful elements such as ammonia. This water will then be chemically treated to make it potable, before passing it back into the plumbing system.
Radio waves have been the primary method of communication between astronauts on the moon and ESA mission control. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves – they can travel through a vacuum, a trait which makes them ideal for space communication along with their capability of transmitting data over long distances. To communicate with astronauts on the moon, the ESA uses a network of ground-based antennas and relay satellites in orbit around the Earth. The antennas on Earth send radio signals to the relay satellites, which then transmit the signals to the antennae in the base. This will allow for efficient communication between the ESA and the Cosmic Oasis. Previous ESA and NASA projects have used radio technology to the same effect. While there are other technologies being developed for space communication, such as laser communication, radio waves will remain the primary method for this purpose at this project.
Solar winds are a stream of charged particles that are constantly emitted from the sun, and they have a significant impact on the moon’s surface and environment. The analysis of this data which will be obtained by the use of the device called the Solar Wind Ion Reading Device (or SWORD). Specifically, the project will focus on analysing solar wind-induced surfaces charging and any harmful effects associated with it . The project will utilise computer simulations to further investigate the mechanisms behind these phenomena. The results of this research will help to improve our understanding of the lunar environment and provide insights into the effects of solar winds on other airless bodies in our solar system and provide insights for the construction of future lunar and martian habitats.
Furthermore the harsh lunar environment, with its low gravity, extreme temperature fluctuations, and lack of atmosphere and water, presents significant challenges for growing crops. Therefore we will be also studying the growth of various GM crops in lunar conditions and analysing their growth and yield compared to non-GM crops. The project will also explore the potential of genetic engineering techniques to enhance crop resilience and adaptability to the lunar environment. The results of this research could have significant implications for future long-term space exploration missions and the development of sustainable agriculture in space. By understanding the potential of GM crops for lunar agriculture, we can pave the way for a more sustainable and self-sufficient human presence on the moon and beyond.
Emergency procedures: Astronauts should be prepared to handle emergencies like equipment failure, medical emergencies, and evacuations.
Psychological training: Astronauts spend long periods in isolation and confinement. Psychological training can help them cope with isolation, work under stress, and maintain a positive attitude.
Physical training: Astronauts must undergo the typical ESA physical training
Scientific training: Operation of the SWORD would need to be possible for all six astronauts. Training in its operation and maintenance would be necessary.
For the sake of safety, training in operating the Photobioreactor would also be necessary such that a constant oxygen supply can be readily restored.
Life support systems: A lunar mission requires a self-sufficient habitat that supports human life. Astronauts should be trained in operating life support systems like air and water recycling, food production, and waste management
Talaria
Talaria is a long-range drone model, which operates off of solar power. It is a multi-purpose drone which uses a set of robotic arms to collect rocks and lunar ice from a long distance. The drone is remotely operated from the communications room, with a direct video feed.
The solar power and long-range communications means that it can spend long periods of time away from the base on expeditions. The refrigerated storage space located in its back allows it to return with target materials such as lunar ice.
Aegis
Aegis is a long-range vehicle model which operates off a rechargeable battery. The battery can also be recharged by the mounted solar panels on top of the vehicle.
It is driven by one person, but up to three people can live inside the vehicle for long periods of time as it possesses the necessary sleeping quarters. It possesses a large stock of oxygen, as well as dehydrated food (and the means to rehydrate it).
As Aegis has human passengers which will not be wearing space suits, it is air-tight and armoured to protect from any sort of breach occuring.
Iokheira
Iokheira is a short-range scouting vehicle which can hold up to two passengers. It is open-topped and allows for very fast short range travel. The vehicle moves quickly, but cannot hold significant cargo, used for exploration. It can also be used to carry SWORD for monitoring long distances.
Talos
Talos is the rocket which will be used to return to Earth. Once the base is set up, parts of Talos will be individually 3D printed to construct a rocket capable of, in emergency, returning to Earth in case an astronaut is compromised. As the base is self-sufficient, there is no need to bring supplies to the base from Earth.
