[42]

Our project will consist of a main module in the underground in which the astronauts will live and execute their tasks. This module has 2 floors, on the one below there are 7 sectors: a bedroom,a cooking area, a leisure area, a bathroom, an exit and main room with all the controls. On the first floor there will be an area to grow plants, seaweed, fungus and invertebrates(bugs and earthworms). All the sectors are designed in a hexagonal shape. The room with the controls is in the middle of the module so everyone can have access in each sector.
There will also be 3 systems: an electric ( includes a nuclear reactor and a photovoltaic system- through panels put on the surface), a water generator and a recycling system (that cleans the already used water).

We want to build our Moon Camp in a crater, in the south pole, because by being inside of a crater we are partially protected from the solar winds, galactic cosmic radiation and possible meteorites. It must be in the south because it’s where there is iced water which can be transformed into liquid water and where it will be easier to reach the most profunded areas of the crust, due to the deepness of the crater, allowing the exploitation of ice and hydrated minerals.
Aside from that, in this area, in the crateres, during the day, the light isn’t direct, therefore, the temperatures won’t be high jeopardising the function of the solar panels and other electric equipment. Although there is only indirect light, this one is essential to develop all the astronaut’s tasks.

Our Moon Camp will be built in fases. When the astronauts arrive, they will place the moon’s survival module (that’s part of the spaceship they used to go to the Moon).
Secondly, they will build the first floor with singular and protected modules. The walls will be built with moon’s soil rocks and will be “glued” with a cement formed with the moon’s regolith and water. These walls will be both on the inside and on the outside covered with a rubber acrylics’ ink to waterproof it. The furniture and the equipment of each module will be built by 3D printers programmed before the launching on Earth.

Water is fundamental to life, therefore it’s utilization must be monitored all times. This way, water will be provided by removing the residual water inlaid in the rocks; by removing water from hydrated minerals, regolith and ice; by recovering and making treatments of cleaned water; by transforming polluted water into drinkable water by using biological processes. To provide water, a water’s treatment station is going to be installed and there will be used ice from the polar regions. This ice will be obtained using a special drill that should go until 2 meters below the moon’s surface.

In the beginning, the astronauts will have to survive with the maintments brought from Earth. These resources will progressively be replaced by plants, seaweed, fungus and invertebrates grown in a system of food’s production and “meat” produced by cellular production through bioreactores. The self-sufficiency is pretend to be reached in a year. The food production will be made in piled up boxes vertically. The plants will be in connection tunnels.
It’s expected for an astronaut to consume 3200kcal a day. The food needs will be approximately 635 kg per year per person, meaning 3175 kg per year (considering the 5 astronauts).

The main sources of energy will be solar energy- captured through solar panels- and, also, nuclear energy- provided by nuclear micro reactors. Another source of energy to consider is thermal energy. The nonexistence of wind on the Moon allows the retention of the heat on the Moon’s regolith that will be used in a process similar to a heat pump system. The thermal exploitation will be optimized through adding a set of lenses and special mirrors that will help control the temperature inside and heating water.

Most of the water will be obtained through the electrolysis of water. Another way of having air is by using plants and seaweed to produce oxygen and by using an air treatment system, by using a membrane system that separates the water in excess from the air and the pollutants. Also, carbon dioxide formed in cellular respiration will be used to create water using the hydrogen from the water’s hydrolysis (in a process that’s still in development).

[54]

We are going to install a survival subterranean module in which the transport ship will fit in. The hole will be made after the perforation of the moon’s surface. We are going to use regolith on the top of the structures to protect from the meteorites, solar winds and dangerous radiation. This area must be the safest one. It will be covered with aluminium and other layers of insulating materials and it will have food supplies for over 6 months (necessary time for a rescue)
The astronauts will also have vests to walk outside with micro layers of materials like nylon, neoprene, rubber, Mylar aluminized, Dacron, Kapton, Teflon, that protect from the heat, regulate the pressure and protect from fires and cosmic particles.

The astronaut’s selection must be rigorous, to make sure that the chosen ones are physically and mentally capable. Despite what most people think, a day in the Moon is exhausting. In the team there must be companionship, patience, trust and altruism. There are a lot of different tasks to do from the different areas. This way, there must be people that are specialized in most of them so that none is less worked. It’s still necessary for all to have some knowledge of other areas, in case of an emergency. Therefore, all the astronauts will have a strict schedule that includes sleep and meal periods similar to the ones on Earth, meaning, about 8 hours of sleep and 4 to 5 meals a day (10-30 minutes each), as well as their personal hygiene. For the rest of the day, the activities won’t be fixed. Most of the time will be spent on investigation. We propose that, firstly, we should be send 5 astronauts (at least) because there are 4 tasks we consider vital and one should be the lider (there must be a hierarchy). On the main control room, they will be able to establish calls with people on Earth, there will be a general control of the residence (temperature, humidity, gas’ levels, radiations and particles that arrive to the lunar station), a control of the electric system and a control of the modules related to food and sustainability (water’s recycling and production of energy in the most sustainable way). The astronauts are also going to have a 3 hour leisure period. The walks outside of the station are exhausting, therefore it’s necessary to exercise (on the leisure module where there is going to be two treadmills and a weight-training equipment) for at least 2 hours a day. On the lasting hour, they are going to be able to play games that improve concentration and thinking skills, like chess, and talk with people on Earth (family, schools and universities). It’s necessary that this schedule is followed and that they make shifts so that the control center isn’t left alone for more than one hour.