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.
Bahçeşehir Koleji Fen ve Teknoloji Lisesi Samsun-Turkey Turkey 16, 17, 15 6 / 5 English
3D design software: Fusion 360
We positioned the base on Malapert Mountain, contrary to the customary one. The reasons for our choice were the presence of solar energy on the northern slope of the base, which could provide solar energy, and we aimed to protect it from the risks of radiation and meteorites that could come from outside by using the slope of the moon in a panoramic way. In the division of the base into inner chambers, we adopted a structure that expands from the inside out, inspired by the Voronoi diagram. In addition, the observatory on the top was inspired by the dome shape of the fairy chimneys. The floor distribution of the base was inspired by ant nests due to organizational efficiency. In the material selection, the local lunar soil was used both in the outer structure of the base and in its internal components. The base’s food needs are met by the hydroponic vertical farming system. In energy production, methods of obtaining liquid fuel from wastes, energy production by using equipment in the sports field, obtaining energy from helium-3, and energy production from thermoelectric concrete were used. It was considered to use water electrolysis, Algae photosynthesis, and Cryogenic air separation methods.
While building our base, our main focus is to contribute to scientific activities and to keep the comfort of scientists at the highest level. We think that our base can focus heavily on biology, geology, and astronomy activities. To talk about each of them in more detail; Our laboratories for biological studies will enable astronauts to continue their studies in our agricultural areas with confidence, in geological studies, due to the location of the base, the focus will be on collecting samples and examining the collected samples in the laboratory.
Location is a premier feature for a moon camp and we think that the top of mount Malapert at the Moon’s South Pole is an eligible region. As it is known, the South Pole is the most water-rich region. Thanks to its 5000m height, mount Malapert has a dominating point over the South Pole, which can be useful for future missions in the area. The northern slope of Malapert gets annual sunlight of 87-91% and is quite productive for solar energy. Also, the geomorphological structure of Malapert can be examined to understand more about Moon’s geological past. However, transportation between the surface to Malapert is hard because of the average slope rate on the mountain, but we will use a safe route to reach the moon’s surface. Malapert is away from harsh conditions on the surface and a stable location, which makes creating a livable environment easier for astronauts.
Since the surface conditions of the moon are difficult, it is planned to use robotic arms suitable for difficult conditions in the installations of our moon camp. There must be devices on the rovers to enable communication. In addition, robotic arms will be used during the construction process. Digging tools will be available since Mount Malapert needs to be drilled depending on the design of the moon base. Solar panels will be used to keep the energy at the maximum during the construction process. Moon soil will be used for the production of the materials. In addition, we were inspired by the fairy chimneys in Cappadocia,which we can see in Turkey, Armenia, Bakery Serbia, Japan, Taiwan, in the design of our project. Not only were we inspired by the shape of the hat, but we also benefited from the self-renewal properties and durable structure. We made use of moon soil in the production of our interior furniture.At the same time, we created the room layout using the voronoi diagram, which allows us to separate a space in the most effective way. In terms of interior design, we also paid attention to privacy and individual space. For this reason, we took care in interior design for individuals to have their own private rooms. At the same time, we took care that the items in interior design furniture are modular, have many functions and at the same time are of high quality.
The foundations of the building material of our base are based on the lunar soil and the metal alloy obtained from the lunar soil. The metal alloy extraction from the moon soil is called “Molten Regolith Electrolysis”. In the structure of the base there are metals such as iron, magnesium, titanium, aluminum and silicon. The base, which evaluates the strength of its base materials, is highly protected against external factors. The camp will also house the protection of the mountain, as selected parts of the camp will be located in the interior of Mount Malapert using the carving technique. Because in the bases some parts are inside the mountain there is a high protection score. We are aware that there could be high heat levels on the surface of the moon, our base is safe from them because it is located in some higher place than the moon’s surface. The location of the observatory on the top floor of the camp was inspired by “fairy chimneys” and the reason for this is that the fairy chimneys in Turkey,Armenia, Bakery Serbia, Japan, Taiwan have not been destroyed until today. In addition, the use of local resources as raw materials in the indoor furniture of our base, as in the fairy chimneys, has also enabled the durability of the interior. In the outer structuring of the base, the frustum geometrical figure, which is a solid figure consisting of the bottom part of a cone or pyramid, the top of which has been cut off by a plane parallel to the base, was used as an additional support to the base.
Water: system will based on water ice on the Moon. Our camp is located on Malapert, near water resources, we will need specific rovers for mining and transporting for water. Also make field studies for new resources of water with these rovers. Due to the scarcity of water, all used water will have been refined for reusing it again to create a self-sufficient and circulating water supply for the camp.
Food: Healthy and balanced diet is very important for astronauts and researchers on the moon base Therefore we took advantage of the hydroponic farming system, which is one of the soilless farming methods in our moon base and productivity is much higher than soil agriculture. With this system, the production of products such as peas, soybeans and lentils, which are needed for the daily nutritional intake of astronauts.
Air: Electrolysis; electricity is applied and the oxygen is separated. Another advantage of this method is end of the process, metal alloy can be used for other needs of the base. Another is Cryogenic air separation, which removes pure nitrogen and oxygen from the Air. Third spirulina platensis is used. Oxygen production will be used as a result of photosynthesis by using led lights. Finally, the produced oxygenated air will be given to the superior ventilation system.
Power: Integrated pyrolysis method, a common technique used to convert plastic waste into energy in the form of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels, has been used. Power is obtained from sports equipment in the sports room in the camp by using an inverter. Helium-3 energy is obtained from helium obtained by mining the lunar dust. Malapert Mountain is very efficient in terms of solar energy, We increased the energy yield by increasing the surface area of the solar panels by using the voronoi diagram in the solar cells.
Waste management is of great importance at our moon base. For this, we must correctly separate the wastes we use from the first day. We can convert the organic wastes into heat and ammonia with a composting method called anaerobic composting, and methane can be used as rocket fuel in the heating system of the heating base. When we process wastes such as metal and plastic correctly, they can be used as filaments in 3D printers and used to produce our new needs. At least as important as converting our clicks correctly, it will be to make the right planning to avoid waste and to use the materials we have for a long time.
It is important to us that the clues that will be transferred to the world at the moon base and will be taken from the world are fluent and understandable. For this reason, we used earth-moon-earth communication (EME), also known as “moon jump”, to make the communication fluent. It was decided to use this technique by utilizing the Moon’s signal reflection feature. It is important to us that the clues that will be transferred to the world at the moon base and will be taken from the world are fluent and understandable. 4 general methods generally provide earth-moon-earth communication. Communication is provided through the reflectors to be installed on the moon, the sending station on the earth, the signals reflected over the reflectors, and the receiving stations on the earth’s side.
In our moon camp we think that being versatile is really important and we direct our work with this motto. We mentioned that our base will host the research of five astronauts under normal conditions. These astronauts are divided into groups according to their fields of study. Two astronauts will be engaged in geology activities, two astronauts in astronomy activities, and another astronaut in medicine. Since our moon camp is located with a mountain called “the Malapert Mountain”, we will get the chance to meet so many different kinds of metamorphic rocks. The rocks collected by the rovers while the carving the mountain processes are carried out will be collected by our astronauts and taken to our geology laboratory for research.
We mentioned that our base is also inspired by fairy chimneys in terms of its exterior. There is a space observation center with structural differences on the top floor of the base, similar to the top of the fairy chimneys. Since the space observatory center takes a huge place in our moon camp, we can easily say that the science field astronomy would be an area that has been given importance. Our two astronauts, who have a high level of knowledge in astronomy and space observations, will carry out their activities in the observatory.
We are aware of how much importance should be given to issues such as the spread of epidemics in space. A quarantine room specifically focused on this situation is available in our moon camp. In order to be able to work both in this room and in the infirmary, one of our astronauts will deepen in the field of medicine.
Just like astronauts should have a training program during the moon mission, they also need to get prepared for getting into the moon with a serious training schedule. There are some basic trainings in the first place, such as: learning emergency procedures, spacecraft systems and spacewalking techniques. After they get to know those techniques on a professional level, they can deepen in their specific science fields like astronomy or medicine. Astronauts also get tested before they are chosen to the moon mission in ways if they are physically and mentally able to achieve the tasks. There are some experts that will test their physical conditions, and some psychiatrists to say about the astronauts if they are ready or not. The astronauts should be trained to obtain serious teamwork actions because they won’t be alone in the moon mission, they also can’t get homesick. Because our camp is located on the mountain “Malapert”, the astronauts should be trained living in higher areas. Astronauts need to choose some small items carefully to bring to the moon with them, these items might have some emotional meaning for them or it could be just for spending time in space. After astronauts land on the moon, they need to train at least two hours on a daily basis in an effort to prevent bone and muscle loss while living in microgravity. They can do some cardio using a treadmill or bike or lift weight as some examples. Also to mention the after of the moon mission, astronauts need to take a post-mission rehabilitation to help them readjust to the earth.
The devices to be used should be preferred in line with the needs and wishes of the scientific activities to be carried out at the station. Vehicles that will work in the field of biology and earth sciences have a robotic arm to collect samples and a reservoir to store the samples. It is important that the vehicles that will extract water are specially designed and have storage areas. The rover that will scan the moon’s surface should also be part of the scientific team. While bringing the vehicles to the moon in the world, they will be easily transported and assembled on the moon due to their modular structure. In case of damage at any point in the vehicle, it will be easy to repair as the parts are modular.
