Design, Engineering and Construction

1. Design, Engineering and Construction Engineering: The building will be built from lunar regolith, sourced from the nearby Alaskol settlement, to combat the effects of radiation (it can ‘shield’) and prevent any further need to incorporate anti-radiation shielding. The inside of the lunar regolith will be coated in aluminum and decorated over to produce an aesthetically pleasing vision to the occupants. The glass domes will be created using diagonal support beams form triangular shapes to support the high weight, caused by the thick glass to prevent against radiation, because of the lack of a lunar atmosphere. The individual sections will be separated by airlocks with individual seals to prevent against any sort of breaches or decompression; the individual airlocks would also help prevent any contaminations passing into each of the sections from another. Design: The design of our settlement is based on one building split into three separate areas - living, storage and agricultural sections. The individual sections of the building will have glass domed roofs to allow for natural light and views. The living area will be the middle section of the building to allow for full access to the other two areas from the main ‘living’ section, preventing the need to travel from one side to another of the complex, or having to leave the complex. The solar farm will be positioned outside the building alongside of the hydrogen fuel cells storage connected to transformers, which will transfer power to the systems within the building through underground cabling. Construction: The lunar regolith would be of a thickness of 2.5 meters thick. This would combat against any sort of radiation penetration and also defend against any minor space rock impacts against the structure. This regolith structure would make up the main section, in which the housing would be built around, with the individual sections built into the lunar regolith design. The glass roof would be then built on top the regolith ‘cast’ before the interior is started upon. Upon construction of the glass roofs, the inner walls of the regolith would be covered with aluminum and separated with airlocks, and the individual sections decorated and organized in their individual sections of living, storage and Aeroponics.

2. Energy: Production and Conservation Solar Cells:We can engineer custom solar cells to work with all forms of Em radiation. Through photoelectricitywe can create high currents; as E=hf, through higher frequencies of light we can obtain higher levels of energy from solar cells. Furthermore, since the moon has no atmosphere, waves can hit solar cells without interference. The exploitation of mirrors can maximize the levels of light hitting solar cells, and thus maximizing energy production. Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Through these cells we can obtain both energy and water as a waste product. This clean, sustainable method demonstrates latest technologies and does require the shipping of rare, weird chemicals. The production of water is a majorly beneficial side effect, since it’s a commodity. Waste Recycling: Biomes can recycle organic waste and produce gasses such as hydrogen and methane - either be burnt or used in fuel cells. In our case, the burning of fuels is to be avoided due to Carbon Dioxide being produced (and the use of Oxygen – a commodity) and the inherent inefficiency of combustion. Bicycles and weight machines can be used to turn turbines and produce small amounts of electricity. By having thick, radioactively impenetrable glass ceilings, we can use the sun for heating our complex, and minimize the reliance on radiators. Insulating materials such as fibre glass will also maintain heat.

3. Sustainability: Piezoelectric injectors for water: Used in combination with the aeroponics systems in order to efficiently utilize water; it makes it possible to control the exact amount of water used so that no water (at all) is wasted. Water recycling: Ions can be removed by an ion-exchange system and can be purified by an ultraviolet treatment which destroys all bacteria, viruses, fungi and algae. Waste recycling: Human fecal matter, as well as waste biomass from the aeroponic systems will be filtered and boiled. Excess water can be reused for hand washing and other non-drinking water applications; moreover, nutrients can be reused for the atomized nutrient spray of the aeroponic system. Any other waste that cannot be utilized can be ejected from the moon into outer space.

4. Water and Food Production Water: We will supply our family with water sourced from Hydrogen fuel cells, with backup tanks full of water, sent from earth. Furthermore, we will recycle water from plants and from the air left inside the complex. The best way to import water to the moon is to ship liquid hydrogen onboard a space shuttle, coinciding with the production of energy through hydrogen fuel cells. Food: Aeroponics systems for vegetable growth. This is advantageous as it utilizes an atomized nutrient spray to provide water and nutrients. This ensures that there is no chance of contamination, as the spray can be carefully built up to the needs of each plant. Moreover, Aeroponics is the most efficient energy to biomass plant growth system, and therefore is the best method of production for lunar exploration. We will grow soy, for a dairy substitute, and essential legumes, seeds and vegetables to ensure all the key food groups are represented. Mycoprotein will also be grown onsite, to replace meat. All other essential vitamins will be shipped over as pills, to ensure the health of the astronauts.

5. Inhabitant Lifestyle Clothing: To maintain the long term health of the moon inhabitants, we aspire to supply our family with weighted clothes, as gravitational force on the moon only equates to approximately 1.6N/Kg Health: It is essential to maintain the fitness of our hosts. Because of this, exercise bikes, free weights and machines will be sent out to the settlement. Aesthetics: An observatory is key! What’s the point in being on the moon without exploiting its perks and observing the marvel that is the universe? Comfort: Tempur mattresses were once designed for astronauts. This was to support their body weights during lift off. These mattresses are space bound! They can also be used in chairs and sofas, to save material costs. Sanitation: Showers remain feasible on the moon. Although there is less gravity on the moon, an extractor can remove floating water droplets from a shower cubicle, and this water can then be recycled. Multistream will reduce the usage of water, avoiding the recycling of water. Toilets will be styled similar to those in commercial aeroplanes, again saving water. Finally, waste products can be recycled into energy, nutrients and fluids. Any un-recyclable waste products can be either buried or sent into space. Leisure Time: As mentioned before, a gym will be present in our complex. Adjacent to the gym, a lounge will be a gym complete with television, a small library, a computer with internet for earth to moon communications, and a surround sound system. A few pogo sticks and space hoppers might be lying around too…

6. Logistics: The physical process of sending tones of kilograms of mass into space is both an expensive and technically difficult task. As it costs approximately $50,000 per lb of mass into space, light materials are a necessity. Furthermore, tens of gallons of water will need to go to the moon on the first visit – alas, a gallon of water costs $400,000 to transport. By designing a large space shape with a large hull we can minimise the number of trips sent out to the moon – to the point where only one is needed. Mechanics will need to be sent out initially into space with the materials to construct the complex, which will be both time consuming and costly. Again, to reduce both of these elements, the internal components of the house will be flat-packed before being sent out. By Team Scholastica