[42]

The moon camp will aim to conduct many experiments, one of the most important of them is the study of life on a place which is not Earth. And especially study lives of astronauts. The means by which will adapt psychologically or physically the astronauts will teach us a lot about the adaptability of the human being in space and will help to prepare a new mission, on Mars for example. On the other hand, the study of the moon allows us to learn a lot about origins of all life thanks to materials present for millions of years on the moon. To lead this project, the construction, the organization and the management of a moon camp will be the key elements. The base will have to respond to many expectations. So it will be necessary tu use innovations and inventiveness in the fields of transport, energy, water, security, construction and robotics.

The moon camp will have to be built underground and on a pole of the moon. Indeed, the location of the base is essential to face the many difficulties of the moon environment. The temperatures can reach -233 degrees celsius to 123 degrees celsius on the surface of the moon. So it necessary to choose a location with a constant and moderate temperature to make life easier for astronauts and to spend less energy and water. However, on the poles, the temperature goes from -50 to 0 degrees, a temperature better than on the rest of the moon. In addition, the poles are constantly lit. However, this temperature is still extreme. By building the base underground, a temperature of 20 degrees could be reached. An underground base also allows protecting more effectively from objects that could fall on the moon.

The base will be in two parts. The entrance located on the surface of the moon will allow access to the other part located underground, in former lava tubes, in order to have not to dig the surface of the moon. Astronauts will need a base as soon as possible. Sending robots (before astronauts will arrive ) could have carried out preparatory work in order to better accommodate the astronauts. On the other hand, the materials that need to used, must not be bulky to be transported all at once by a rocket. Inflatable scaffold appears ideal because they take little space in transport but are upgradeable. Then for rigid materials, more necessary on the surface, it will be necessary to count on a 3D printer which will build the entry of the base, and don’t need to move it several times because it will build only the entry. The inflatable module will adapt to the shape of the cave.

A significant part of the water will be provide on the model of the international space station. The use of water recycling system just like on ISS will be necessary. But recycling at 100 % is impossible. So, we need to use a local option. There is solid water on moon poles. To heat it, astronaut might have to build a heating station which is not including on the moon base to have less risks.

Significant part of the food will have to be produced locally. So the food will be essentially vegetarian. Plants will produce fruit and vegetables on the model of soilless cultivation. The soilless cultivation model saves a lot of water. To avoid temperature variations, the plants will be grown underground in the base itself in order to benefit from protection against the sun rays. Artificial lights will therefore be used.

Solar panels seem the most suitable solution. The base being located on a pole, it also seems the ideal place to install the panels because poles are lighting all the year. However, on several occasions, there are lunar eclipses. Batteries are therefore necessary to maintain an electricity supply.

Air can be provide by electrolysis. But then, Air depends of the capicity to obtain water. So, there need other solutions in case of lack of water. One of them is to growing plants. Algae produce enough oxygen with only 8m ^ 2 per astronaut. These algae will grow in the water located in the wall around the base ( here to protect astronauts from solar radiations and to save some place. ) Other solution is to use regolith, a component of the moon also calls lunar soil which presents interesting properties, by heating the regolith we can get oxygen.

[54]

Astronauts protection essentially involves a secure base. The base will be built on a model combining several protections. For that, several superimposed layers will exist. First an outdoor layer composed of Polythlene. Then, under this layer, there is water where will be present algae to produce oxygen. Polythlene and water provide protection from sun radiations. In addition, storage of water saves space, and does not leave fluid in the middle from the base to avoid any potential danger. Then the base is composed of two parts, one outside serving as an entrance and one underground. Underground base will be safe of any meteors and will have a correct temperature. Some outdoor tasks can be controlled remotely with the use of robots in order to limit the risks and to spend less resources.

During a day on the moon, astronauts can do scientific experiments. For example, taking samples of lunar rocks, bacteria and remains of past lives. They also can explore some caves will able to study the constitution of the moon in depth in its different layers. To do that astronauts (before going out) must put on their coveralls which protect them from ultraviolet rays and which also protect them from different temperatures which reach -233 degrees Celsius to 123 degrees Celsius on the surface of the moon. Moreover, their coverall allows them to breathe on the moon which has no atmosphere and therefore no oxygen. When they go out, astronauts must also pay attention to space weather such as the fall of small meteors and the waves of solar radiation which are extremely dangerous
Then, astronauts have to maintaining their bodies in well health. It necessary to keep muscles in good shape despite the low gravity of the moon, so astronauts must follow a regular physical maintenance program in using specific bodybuilding tools create for no gravity.
Finally, astronauts must maintain the camp operational. Changing batteries and checking that no system are broken is a daily time mission.