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We would like our base to consist of three modules accessed by corridors branching off the main module. In addition, we plan to build a garage for rovers which will be used to create a regolith cover for our base. Other equipment settled outside the shelter will be solar panels and DC-AC converter as solar panels produce direct current whilst all the devices in our base need to be powered by the alternative current. The main module will be a multipurpose one – astronauts will sleep, eat, work out, care for one’s sanitation and relax there. The remaining modules will serve various purposes. One of them will be used as a storage with a place to keep inorganic waste. The other will be a place to grow plants. The last one will serve as a place to conduct research and will contain surveillance systems.

The location of our base would be in the lunar south pole – in Shackleton’s crater rim to be exact. Near-constant sunlight would provide solar power collected by solar panels. Interiors of craters in this area are cold traps containing a fossil record of hydrogen, water ice, and other volatiles, which creates an opportunity to acquire these valuable resources. Vicinity of water ice in permanently shadowed areas surrounding the base could be used to obtain water. The choice of this location would be a relief from the extremes of heat and cold found across the rest of the Moon.

In 2013 ESA proved that 3D printing using lunar material was feasible in principle. Our team has decided to give this idea a try. For the period of 3D printing our base, the astronauts would live in a habitation capsule. The construction would consist of four connected inflatable scaffolds inflated in the shape of our base. Four 3D printer robots would collect regolith and cover the construction with it. Meanwhile, the fifths robot would start building a garage to store rovers. Most objects found in our base will be 3D-printed since transportation of large quantities of materials from Earth is noneconomic. We also researched the lightest and at the same time the strongest materials and decided that graphene is exactly what we are looking for. It is a 95% density of steel and about 10 times as strong. Eventually, our team settled on graphene as our main 3D-printing material.

Water on the Moon is present only in the form of ice. Our team’s idea to obtain it is to extract a piece of ice, melt and purify it. Then we would conduct a test to determine if it is potable. Another thing that we consider essential is reclaiming water resources. Our team wants to use the solution of proved quality which is the Water Recycling System developed at the MSFC. It reclaims water from urine, oral hygiene and handwashing, and by condensing humidity from the air. The collected water will be distributed through pipelines to all modules.

Most of the food supply will be brought from the Earth. Of course, it would have to undergo the processes of lyophilization and thermal stabilization beforehand. Astronauts would only have to heat their meals, either by warm water or food heater. One of the base’s module is destined to grow plants. At the early stages of the mission, it will be used mostly to grow plants producing plenty of oxygen but in the posterior period, we plan to establish edible plant breeding. Meals prepared from fresh products will increase the crew’s morale and create an atmosphere of a home. Preparing fresh meals would be possible by using an oven designed to work in a lower gravity level. It not only uses convection, but also conduction of metal walls of the oven, which heat the air inside.

Our team agreed that the best solution to provide power to the moon base, especially considering the fact that our base will be located in the area with near-constant sunlight. Our shelter is loaded with devices requiring a tremendous amount of energy to work properly. According to our calculations, three solar panels – each of 4,8kWp power will be enough to supply the whole base with a sufficient supply of electricity. We also need to build a DC-AC converter as solar panels produce direct current whilst all the devices in our base need to be powered by the alternative current.

As mentioned before, at the early stages of the mission, the module with plants will be used mostly to grow plants producing oxygen. We searched for plants generating as much oxygen as possible and our choice was spirulina. It is extremely efficient – 8m^2 of this plant is enough to provide one person with oxygen. Our base is designed for three or four astronauts, so 32m^2 will be enough to supply the whole crew with oxygen. The collected oxygen will be combined with nitrogen in proportions matching those from the Earth’s air and distributed among all the modules through pipelines.

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A great number of obstacles must be tackled to safely settle the Moon. The most hazardous factors in the Moon environment are moon dust, radiation, temperature fluctuations, and meteoroids. Our base will be covered with a layer of regolith. The shell is light and incredibly strong at the same time. While inside, the astronauts are protected from meteorites, radiation, and high-temperature fluctuations. Unfortunately, spending most of the time inside the base is not an option for this mission. Therefore, we came up with some ideas that would protect the astronauts outside the shelter. To prevent moon dust from contaminating the base we would install airlocks at all entries. Spacesuits of astronauts re-entering the base would have to be left inside the airlocks. Spacewalks’ time would be restricted due to poor protection both from radiation and temperature. Over time spacesuits’ quality will improve and the crew will spend more time outside.

A day described by our team is set in an advanced stage of our mission. The astronaut crew has already managed to successfully grow edible plants with the use of a hydroponics system. All the modules of the shelter along with solar panels and garage are installed by now as well. A good day starts with a delicious breakfast and the same applies to our crew. One astronaut prepares ham and cheese sandwiches with the addition of fresh lettuce picked from the plant-growing chamber. Meanwhile, the rest of the team checks up the life-sustaining systems and clears up the base. Afterward, they gather in the main module to eat their meal together. Having eaten, they have some leisure time to relax. Our base provides a wide range of means to unwind such as e-books, watching films, cooking with the use of cutting-edge technology and even playing video games. The Moon’s gravitational acceleration is approximately six times lesser than the one on the Earth, thus astronauts have to work out to avoid amyotrophy. The crew is provided with three types of workout machines: treadmill, stationary bike and workout bench with barbells. Having spent some time winding down, the crew now does exercises for 2.5 hours. After intense training, the astronauts head to take care of their hygiene. Then the team splits up into two groups. Two astronauts get ready for a spacewalk – they put their spacesuits on and leave the base through the main airlock. They aim to collect samples of minerals that could be used to building an expansive settlement for new habitants. They are accompanied by two rovers digging and storing the samples. Their spacewalk lasts approximately 4 hours. Having finished the job, they return to base’s airlock and take off their spacesuit in order not to contaminate the shelter’s inside with the moon dust. They then take the collected samples to the laboratory and join the rest of the crew. Meanwhile, the astronauts who stayed in the base, design a vehicle that would allow the whole crew to cover long distances. Soon they gather to prepare a dinner which is oven-fried chicken and eat it. Throughout the day they snack on fruits, jellies and chocolate bars. The evening is spent on checking the astronaut’s life parameters and talking with their relatives via online communicators. After a tiring but stunning day, the crew goes to bed.