Team: Moon Base

Category: 2nd place – Non ESA Member States | 2nd place – Non ESA Member States | Qingpu Town, Shanghai – China |  Qingpu Senior High School

Project description

2.1.a. Where would you locate your shelter on the Moon’s surface?
Close to the Lunar Poles

2.1.b. Explain your choice from question 2.1.
We decided to build a lunar base near the moon’s Antarctic, where the moon’s Antarctic is illuminated for 90% of the day, which makes it the best site for the moon at present. Another advantage of the lunar Antarctic is climate. The moon is a very different place from the earth. It takes nearly a month for the moon to spin around. In most areas of the moon, each night lasts about two weeks. However, some areas of the Moon’s Antarctic are almost always illuminated, similar to the summer conditions of the Earth’s Arctic. This means that there is no major temperature change in these areas, so solar panels mounted there can absorb enough sunlight to power the lunar base. In addition, a major reason for the establishment of lunar bases at both poles of the moon is that there may be water in permanent shadows, which can be a source of water.

2.2.a. Where would you build the shelter: on the surface or underground?
Underground

2.2.b. Explain your choice to question 2.2.
We decided to divide the base into permanent base and temporary base. The permanent base is built below the lunar surface and has an entrance above the lunar surface. It will be used as a place for researchers to enter and leave the base and live on a daily basis. There are the following characteristics below the lunar surface: 1. It is less affected by radiation. 2. The temperature difference between day and night is small, which is suitable for human and plant life. 3. The surface of the moon is more stable, and the underground buildings are less affected by meteorite rain. These characteristics are more suitable for long-term human habitation.Temporary Baseis a temporary base for researchers to explore the moon. We decided to build it above the lunar surface in order to achieve the purpose of simplicity.

3.1. What will be the size of your Moon Camp?
Our base is about 5 2-storey villas, about 2,000 square meters.

3.2.a. How many people will your Moon Camp accommodate?
3 – 4 astronauts

3.2.b. Explain your choice to question 3.2.
We think our lunar base is suitable for 3-4 research institutes. Faced with the new environment, it needs the solidarity and mutual assistance of many people to adapt to the new environment as soon as possible. Three to four people are better suited to the dull life on the moon, keeping people’s mental health, while not making the lunar base too crowded.

3.3.a Which local Moon resources would you use?
Water ice
Regolith (Lunar soil)
Other

3.3.b. Explain your choice to question 3.3.
We will use the following resources on the moon 1. Water ice on the Moon: Water ice exists in the permanent shadows of the polar regions, from which water resources can be obtained. In addition to meeting the daily water needs of researchers, water can be used in environmental control, life insurance system and thermal control system inside the lunar base. 2. Lunar soil: Nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and other gases are the main components of the earth’s air, and these gases can be produced from lunar soil to meet the life needs of researchers. In addition, the lunar soil material has the characteristics of radiation protection, heat insulation and impact resistance. The building materials constructed with it will be safer, stable and firm. Therefore, exploitation of lunar soil and processing of building materials are the key to the construction of lunar base. 3. Helium-3: Because of the need for production activities on the moon similar to those on the Earth, such as mineral extraction, extraction and refining, some energy needs to be consumed, helium-3 on the moon is the best choice. Helium-3 is a long-term, clean, safe and cheap controllable nuclear fusion fuel for human beings in the future. Other by-products (such as hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc.) will also be an important resource for the life support system of the lunar base. In addition, helium-3 is an absolutely clean fuel. Nuclear fusion reactions with hydrogen isotope deuterium can generate enormous electric energy, but no radioactive waste is produced during the reaction process. Because there is no neutron in the thermonuclear reactor using helium-3, it will only produce protons without radioactivity, so when using helium-3 as energy source, it will not produce radiation and will not bring harm to the environment. 4. Lunar Minerals: Relevant studies have shown that pure bauxite was found in lunar soil, which indicates that molybdenite existed on the moon, rather than being brought to the moon by spacecraft structural materials and lubricants. For the first time, Russian researchers have discovered sulfur-cadmium minerals in lunar soil, which are composed of cadmium, zinc, iron, manganese and sulphur. They also found gold sulfide containing copper impurities in lunar soil and rhodium iodide not found on Earth, but they did not find platinum and palladium in lunar soil as previously mentioned. It can be used to build and repair instruments

3.4. Explain how you plan to build your project on the Moon. You should include information about the materials and building techniques you are planning to use. Highlight the unique features of your design.
Our materials are mainly lunar soil, glass and vegetable fibers. Lunar soil can be collected directly on the moon and printed with a 3D printer for making supporting buildings. Lunar soil contains a certain amount of silica which can be used to make glass, and plant fibers are added to it to make high strength toughened glass or matted glass, which is the main body of some walls.Plant fibers are mainly related to plant stems and leaves in botanical gardens.It can be used to make heating structure to reduce heating energy consumption.Vegetable fibers can be compressed to make floors, increase friction on the outside of walls, and place unnecessary bruises.

3.5. Describe and explain the design of the entrance to your Moon Camp.
Our doors are opened alternately in two layers. When astronauts approach, the outer door opens while the inner door closes. When they enter, the outer door closes while the inner door opens. This can prevent unnecessary dust from entering the room. Each door adopts shutter design, which reduces space occupation, facilitates opening and saves materials.

3.6. Explain how the Moon Camp provides protection for the astronauts.
There is less radiation below the lunar surface and less temperature difference. At the same time, there are strong rocks on the lunar surface as protection against meteorite rain.

3.7. Describe the location and arrangements of the sleeping and working areas.
Sleep area is located in the middle of the camp, there are mainly two, each with double beds and a series of recharge facilities. Because of its high safety factor in the central area, it is convenient to escape or go to the accident site after emergencies. The working area is close to the door, so it is easy to access and collect sample data. There are robots in the working area to assist the work, equipped with various advanced instruments, so as to reduce unnecessary waste of time.

4.1. Describe what will be the power source for the shelter. 
1. Helium-3 is a helium isotope with two protons and one neutron. It is considered to be the “”ideal fuel for thermonuclear reaction””. Nowadays, nuclear power plants use “”fission”” reaction to generate electricity, which often produces radioactive waste and pollutes the environment. Even the method of generating electricity from hydrogen isotope “”thermonuclear fusion”” reactors, which are being studied intensively, can generate neutron radiation and bring about environmental hazards. But if a helium thermonuclear reactor is used, it will not produce neutron radiation, so it is a clean, safe, easy to control and efficient nuclear fuel. 2. solar energy There are abundant solar energy resources on the moon. Solar panels and other solar collectors can be used to collect solar energy. 3. Thermal energy produced by hydrogen produced by electrolytic water

4.2. Describe where the water will come from. 
Water ice exists in the permanent shadows of the Antarctic Moon and can be used as daily water for lunar camps

4.3. Describe what will be the food source.
There are vegetable gardens in the lunar camp, which will become the daily food source for the people in the camp

5.1. What would you like to study on the Moon?
After long-term residence, we need to explore the moon. I will make a preliminary decision to study the following. The Geological Structure of the Moon How to Build a Lunar City Suitable for More People’s Life How to Propagate on the Moon Explore and exploit the lunar resources.

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