Pioneers gallery 2021 – Moon Camp Challenge
Moon Camp Pioneers Gallery 2020-2021
In Moon Camp Pioneers each team’s mission is to 3D design a complete Moon Camp using Fusion 360. They also have to explain how they will use local resources, protect astronauts from the dangerous of space and describe the living and working facilities.
Team: CosMoon
Özel Bahçeşehir Koleji Fen ve Teknoloji Lisesi Samsun Turkey 14 or younger, 15, 16 Second Place – Non-ESA Member States External viewer for 3d project
We made sure that camp is easy to build and avoids excessive use of materials. We’ll protect astronauts from meteorites and radiation by positioning our design under the surface. Also, we made it easier to land in our underground camp by placing a rocket platform and elevator on the surface. With a greenhouse area and water conversion. With the agricultural aeroponic method, we’ll also meet the food needs of astronauts by producing our own food sustainably. By filtering Moon water and making it drinkable, we supply a very important need for life by using local resources. For the livable atmosphere in space we planned to first take the nitrogen elements from Earth and then produce oxygen from water electrolysis method and oxygen is delivered to every part of the camp through the ventilation system of the camp. Also we plan to provide the energy needed by the station with solar panels positioned on the lunar surface and at the same time to convert the extra hydrogen generated in water hydrolysis into energy with the help of fuel cells. We’ll position our camp in the Shackleton Crater, as the temperature values ​​are more stable and receive more sunlight than other parts of the Moon. During the construction phase of the camp, we plan to transform the lunar soil into construction material with a 3D printer and to have a safe and fast construction process thanks to the robotic arm we designed.
We decided to build our camp Shackleton Crater in the South Pole location. First, in this region of the Moon, temperature is more stable. It will be extremely useful to provide an appropriate climate for astronauts. Second reason is that the Shackleton Crater gets sunlight nearly %80-%90 around the year. Therefore we can achieve lots of energy with our solar panels therewithal. Since the Sun’s rays almost always reach this part of the Moon, we won’t need unnecessarily large batteries to power when solar panels can’t provide electricity. As for the third reason, some studies show that there may be water in this part of the month. If it is true, we can access the camp’s needed water more easily. In Our camp design we position the room under the Moon surface to protect astronauts from radiation, possible meteor damage and in this way we can stabilize the inner temperature.
How do you plan to build your Moon Camp? Describe the techniques and materials you would use.
We are planning to use two different methods. One of them is using a giant 3D printer to build our camp. We will transform lunar soil to printable material with that giant 3D printer. In this way, we will be able to use local sources from the Moon for building our camp. As another possibility, we think that building materials can be obtained from cannabis plants. Cannabis plant thermal insulation is a good option because it is easy to produce. Due to its low density, it can be produced in a modular structure around the world and can be easily transported to the Moon. At the same time, because it is easy to produce, it can be produced with vertical agriculture and can be used for damage repair for the Moon station, easy to cultivate and can be done with this content for our convenience. We might need only a few materials to take with us from the earth and we plan to bring those few materials to the Moon with payload rockets. It is a really effective way to bring something to the Moon. Robotic arms designed to work effectively and efficiently on the lunar surface, to clean the surface and to assist in the construction of the Moon Camp. You can transmit a wide variety, it is safer to go around. These robots will continue to assist in repairing structures after the Moon Camp is built. After all the equipment is settled, the base will be fully operational.
The environment on the Moon is very dangerous for the astronauts. Explain how your Moon Camp will protect them.
Hundreds of meteorites fall on the lunar surface every year. And there is also a large amount of radiation on the Moon. According to the research, if the structure to be built is covered with about 50 centimeters thick lunar soil, this is sufficient to protect the living creatures from radiation. So we designed the main part of our lunar camp to be built under the lunar surface. We need to protect astronauts in many ways. One of them is the temperature on the lunar surface. It is impossible for a person to survive under normal conditions at this temperature. We are thinking of applying heat insulation by mixing the cannabis plant, water and lime, which is a light material with high thermal insulation and cannot take a lot of space, in order to protect the internal heat of the camp.
We provide our camp water from local sources. First we receive the Moon water with Rover and store the water in tanks then filter the water with a special water filter for transforming water in order for astronauts daily use purposes. Also purify the wastewater such as pee,sweat,bath water and keep fresh water in a loop. Therefore we can use the same water more than one time and prevent water loss in our Moon Camp.
In our Camp we grow our own food with aeroponics vertical agriculture. aeroponic plants do not require any liquid or solid media to grow. Instead, a liquid solution with nutrients is fogged in the air chambers where the plants are hung. Aeroponics is by far the most sustainable soilless cultivation technique. Also we plan to feed our astronaut with a well balanced plant based diet. Because it needs less area and water than traditional diets.
In our electricity system we want to use a renewable energy source through our solar panels that we position on the lunar surface. When we chose the camp location we considered placing the solar farm in a location where we can get efficiency. To this end we decided to build the camp on Shackleton Criterion at the Southampton pole. At the same time, we use extra hydrogen (H) from water electrolysis and get energy from it by using fuel cells. The collected energy is stored in batteries and used for the lighting system,ventilation system, water recycling system etc.
We need about %78 nitrogen, %21 oxygen and %1 other element for livable atmosphere . We will have a computer that will monitor pressure, O2, humidity and CO2 levels. We will use the water from the Moon ice to supply the required oxygen by water electrolysis . With this process, we will also obtain hydrogen gas that can be reused later in the getting energy purpose. We aim to supply the rest of the components except hydrogen from the world and then protect the cycle. Oxygen is delivered to every part of the camp through the ventilation system.
Explain what would be the main purpose of your Moon Camp (for example: commercial, scientific, and/or tourist purposes).
As a team we are really aware of the fact that the Moon is a great place for doing scientific research. For that reason, our Moon Camp’s main purpose would be doing scientific research on the Moon. In our Camp, we have four scientific labs. One of them is a Moon Lab. In our Moon Lab, we do our research about lunar soil, moon water etc. We also have a Biochemistry Lab for biology and chemistry resources and a STEM Lab for science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. We have a lab on the surface for astronomical observation. Even though our main purpose is doing scientific research on the moon, we will also support our camp with social areas such as hobby rooms, workout rooms, public areas etc. for providing astronauts mental health.
Describe a day on the Moon for your Moon Camp astronaut crew.
Humans have been settled to a 24-hour daily cycle through millions of years of human evolution. On the Moon, the situation is somewhat different. The sun is always up, so camp residents need to adapt to these conditions and make a well adjusted plan for daily activity for exemple sleep, research, education, and eating well balanced meal astronauts will work in shifts because in this way they can maintain camp daily order and if they get face to face some problems they can fix the problem more easily and on time. So not all their sleeping schedules will be the same. Sleep plays a big role in human mental health and productivity throughout the day so astronauts should get their sleep at less than eight hour. When they get up and feel ready to start the day first they will do personal hygiene work for example brushing their teeth, taking shower etc. Then they will do some stretching exercises to stretch out the muscle and have a good start the day. Next they do two hours of exercise in a centripetal artificial gravity space station. This step is really important because the Moon’s environment damages astronauts’ bone and muscle health . %1-2 of bone mass can be deteriorated in just one month. We plan to feed the astronaut with %100 plant based balanced and regular diet three times a day produced by our vertical agriculture system. In this way astronauts can access local, environmentally friendly, nutritious food. Astronauts will work around 8-9 hour a day. Throughout the day, crew members carry out their work in line with their areas of expertise. In the Moon camp at least one medical specialist and mechanical engineer must be a crew member. Because one astronaut, an infrared medical specialist intervenes as soon as possible and a mechanical engineer is responsible for training of the operation and regular maintenance of mechanical vehicles (water pump system etc.) . At the end of a working day astronauts have free time. They can read a (e)book, play some games, watch a movie, play instruments and talk to their family and friends. End of the day they will change shifts with their teammate and at night, they will have between 8-10 hours to rest.