Our Lunar Base

By:
Vinnie, Robert, and Sunny
 
 
This 5,559,871 acre site of lunar land is also the site for our lunar base near the southern lunar pole.  We have designed it as an ideal place for human beings to live, work, and play on the moon.  Hopefully, our dream can one day become a reality, broadening our horizons of the universe.  Feel free to browse this site for more information on our base.  We are building this model lunar base as a part of IMSA Summer ADVentures II in conjunction with Moonlink.  Please visit their web sites if you would like more information about this project.  Also, please visit the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy and Eastern Illinois University, the sponsors of this program.  In addition, please look over our bibliography.
Challenges of Living on the Moon
Before planning our lunar base, we had to pose questions to ourselves about the challenges associated with building such a base in a barren, hostile, and hazardous environment.  Listed here are our such questions.
We have posed many questions, but we have also developed many answers.  In this manner, we have been able to produce the best possible lunar base.
Our Answers
After careful thought, we were able to think of possible solutions to our questions about the challenges of living on the moon.  Our challenges were divided into five major groups: Life Support, Energy, Emergency Protection, Everyday Life, Government, and Everyday Life.  For this reason, we have divided our answers to our challenges into these topics on this web page.
Life Support

Our first major challenge was life support.  This was the most important challenge, which had to be addressed first.  We would be able to somewhat regulate the moon's gravity rotating our lunar base at a steady rate slightly off of the moon using hydraulics.  By using this centrifugal force, we would have artificial gravity.  However, if this centrifugal force would not be available, life on the moon would still be possible since the moon has one sixth the gravity of Earth, not zero gravity as many think.  We would also need an artificial atmosphere on the moon.  The first step of this would to encircle our lunar base in two domes; one as a dome for the city and the other sturdy and artificial gravity free dome as an airlock and protection from natural hazards.  The outer dome would also allow astronauts to leave the base wearing space suits and using rover vehicles provided by NASA.  Inside the inner dome, we would be able to create an artificial atmosphere by bringing in gases that make up Earth's atmosphere, such as oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide and using the same procedure used in space shuttles and airlocks.   We would now have pressure and vital gases to make up our atmosphere.  We would regularly filter the gases and even find some of these on the moon, as oxygen is abundant in our sector according to gamma ray spectrometer findings of the Lunar Prospector.  As for water, we would be able to melt ice that is possibly present at the south lunar pole, which is in a close proximity to our base.  If we built an express railway to a dig site, we would be able to mine water with ease if water is indeed present.  We would also be able to mine asteroids for the purpose of finding water for our lunar  base, which would also be rather easy with a nearby spaceport.  Furthermore, we could recycle our water with a sanitation system.  All sewage would be collected and filtered.  The water filtered out would be re-used and the remnants would be dumped in space on the way to Earth.  In addition, we would be able to grow vegetables for food using hydroponics, the usage of nutrient enriched water to grow plants, in a greenhouse in our lunar base.  We would also be able to import dehydrated foods such as cereals, grains, and certain meats from Earth to have healthy diets.  This way, we could bring desirable foods to the moon safely without carrying germs, and since all living quarter kitchens would have hydrators, food on the moon would taste similar to Earth food.  In addition, in our lunar base would be an ideal habitat for humans, enclosing the conveniences of a modern city and incorporating them in the base.  Furthermore, we could be able to mine for certain building materials for the base using information from gamma ray spectrometers.  Evidence shows that on our sector, aluminum, iron, uranium, thorium, and potassium are present.  We could use these elements for buildings in our base.  Last, we would need an artificial climate, since the moon's temperature can dip to -280º C to 240º C.  This would be relatively, easy though, as we would use the same systems used on Mir Space Station and the Space Shuttle.  Basically, the climate control would be a huge air conditioning system with millions of vents in the base hooked up to our life support building.  With these solutions, we would be able to have the necessities to live on the moon in our lunar base.

Energy
Another important challenge involves energy on the lunar base.  First, we will use solar power, a cheap and efficient energy source.  We would have solar panels around our base to collect the energy.  We could also have a nuclear power plant, since according to Lunar Prospector, Uranium is abundant in parts of our sector. This would provide abundant energy, especially if fusion will be possible in the future.  Furthermore, we could mine for fossil fuels in asteroids such as conventional coal.  This would always provide constant power through individual relays to a central power center to avoid network power outages.  Furthermore, we can build industrial buildings on the outskirts of our base to produce our own goods with the raw materials we could find.  We could be almost self-sufficient on the moon in this process.  However, instead of just building factories, we would also devote much time to industrial research.  We will always try to come up with better, more efficient, and faster ways to find energy.  Therefore, our energy will be as perfect as possible.

Emergency Protection
As aforementioned, the moon is a horrendous place if disasters occur.  For this reason, we have set up a system of emergency protection.  First, lunar dust can accumulate on the moon and can sometimes be deadly.  For this reason, our site for building the base will be terra formed and all lunar dust will be removed.  As for future accumulations, vacuuming every day would be mandatory and fines would occur for people who did not comply.  Also, radiation would not be much of a threat because of the outer dome which would be laced with lead to protect the inner dome.  Also, space debris could be deflected by the outer dome as well.  Overlooking all of this would be an emergency 911 service that would be present on the base and orbiting the moon in case of a major meteor or solar flare.  Furthermore, there would be a large medical services building that would cover all hospital functions and functions specifically for the moon, such as mandatory exercise to prevent problems, checkups for astronauts, etc.  In addition, there would be a lunar police force if any inhabitants of the base cause trouble even after being screened to be eligible to come to the base.  Working in conjunction with the police would be a fire station and paramedic unit if any disasters do occur.  Last, an emergency underground shelter could be built in the outer dome in case of imminent and unavoidable danger such as an asteroid collision course.  With these protective measures, our lunar base would be a safer place to live in.

Government
Another important factor for living on the moon would be our government.  A moon would need a city hall for basic needs of a base on the moon, such as street paving, lighting, taxes, and public services.  Also, schools would be established for the entire population.  Children would have a regular school as well as a program that would teach them how to live on the moon and would have a heavy scientific influence.  Furthermore, college would be mandatory to stay on the moon in order to have a productive society, which would be necessary on the moon.  In addition, all adults would be required to have Continuing Lunar Education (CLE), similar to Continuing Medical Education, to know of the newest spatial techniques being developed on Earth.  Moreover, the government would have its own legislation as different rules would be necessary on the moon.  These laws would also be interpreted by judges in lunar courts in the City Hall.  People on the moon would also vote for their public officials in the same manner used in the United States.  Also, the government would regulate our economy and funding.  It would also manage our imports and exports in conjunction with the United States and any other countries involved with the economy.  Furthermore, the government will manage designated retail centers and would authorize all businesses wishing to work on the moon.  The government would also manage recreation centers for the people, which will be further discussed in the next section.  Last, NASA would manage its own center on the moon in conjunction with the city hall of the lunar base.  This would be the center base for all scientific findings on the moon.  With this strong government, our lunar base is more likely to prosper.

Communication
Another problem we had to face when designing our base was communication.  Our first objective would to set up a satellite transmitter on the NASA center to communicate with Earth.  This would be necessary for early stages of construction as changes could be made to plans at any time.  Also with satellites, people will be able to pick up signals such as radio or television frequencies from Earth, giving them a more home-like feeling.  Also, internal telecommunications would have to be setup as well.  Current plans would be simple, routing all wires underground to save space, such as the state of the art telecommunications system used at the Pentagon and Walt Disney World.  All quarters and buildings would be equipped with both audio and video phones to work with this system.  Last, and most importantly, would be our transportation to communicate with others verbally.  Most people would walk in the base because of limited space, but authority figures and other selected personnel of the base would be equipped with electric golf cart like vehicles that would be an efficient use of energy.  All activity in the outer dome would be on mini rovers similar to those being developed for the same purpose here on Earth.  Outside of the entire lunar base, all transportation would be with either large rovers or a vehicular adaptation of a Manual Maneuvering Unit (MMU).  However, mining centers would be connected to our base through use of railways using power from our base and the mining centers themselves.  Last, there would be a nearby spaceport that would be connected through our base through use of airlock tunnels.  This would be the main entrance to our base for people coming from Earth.  Like any other civilization, communication would be necessary on the moon, and hopefully, with our communication system, our lunar base will be successful.

Everyday Life
One of the most important aspects of our lunar base is the everyday life of people.  Without many content people, a base would be virtually useless.  The first thing we did was setup a recreation center with a state of the art sports center, arcade and television center, and other recreational opportunities.  Furthermore, we would have a commercial retail center also for the enjoyment of people on the lunar base.  Here, people would shop for their major needs as well as for pleasure, as the center will be equivalent to a mid sized shopping mall.  In addition, we have tried to build our base as aesthetically correct as possible.  We had zoning areas to keep any undesired areas such as factories away from residential areas as well.  Also, all rooms in residential areas can easily change lighting and colors in order to prevent people from feeling they are living in a boring, cold, and hostile environment.  Moreover, all quarters would have architecture similar to that of Earth and would be as comfortable and cozy as possible to help people feel more at home.  We will also implement comfortable space suits for astronauts that are currently being designed at NASA's development center.  Overall, implementing these plans, we were able to build a comfortable place to live, work, and play on the moon.

The Layout of Our Lunar Base
 
 
Key:
1 - Energy Plant
2 - Life Support Building
3 - Water storage, Hydroponics, Water Filtration
4 - Storage
5 - Retail Center / Imports and Exports
6 - NASA / Communications Building
7 - Residential Building #1
8 - Residential Building #2
9 - Residential Building #3
10 - Recreational Center
11 - Lunar Institute (school)
12 - Emergency Operations Building
13 - Hospital
13 - City Hall
15 - Police/Fire/Paramedic Building
16 - Main Entrance / Airlock
17 - Inner Dome Boundary

Above is a diagram of our planned lunar base.  As you can see, in the middle of our base is the residential areas, school, and recreational center.  Each residential building houses 1,000 people, bringing our population to roughly 3,000.  Our recreation center holds a gym, a sports center, a virtual reality center, a park, and other amenities.  The Lunar Institute schools all citizens of the Lunar Base and has a large library similar to the Library of Congress in an online database.  In the middle of the bottom is our entrance.  This is the entrance from our spaceport and the entrance to our outer dome.  On the right of the entrance is our emergency operations base on the moon, which works in conjunction with the emergency satellite that monitors the base in space, orbiting the moon.  Next to the emergency base is our hospital which serves as a major hospital that has regular procedures as well as special procedures for the moon inhabitants and astronauts.  On the other side of the entrance is the Police, Fire, and Paramedic Building.  The Paramedic Unit works in conjunction with our hospital and the Fire Station works with the Emergency station.  Next to the building is our City Hall.  This is the center for our government.  Elections, executive decisions, legislative decisions, and judicial decisions occur here.  On the lower corners is the border of our inner dome.  Above the residential area is a storage area since all space is needed in residential areas.  Next to this is the retail complex, a tower that has many shopping opportunities and also houses the import and export station with Earth.  In the upper right corner is the NASA base and communications tower because of its proximity to the outer dome.  Here, all scientific discoveries are based and NASA is a sort of second government for the lunar base.  In the upper left corner is our energy power plant.  Here, we have our nuclear reactor, solar power collection pipes, which collect the solar power from the solar cells outside the base, and a connection to mining facilities for fossil fuels.  This building is fenced in for aesthetic reasons.  Next to this is our Life Support building.  Here, our oxygen, atmosphere, water, food, climate, gravity, sanitation, and air pressure is carefully monitored.  This building is part of the 911 Emergency Service.  Last, next to the Life Support building is our most important building.  Here is our Water/Hydroponics/Filtration plant.  Our water is stored here, as well as vegetables growing in nutrient enriched water.  Also, dirty water and sewage are filtered here to recycle our water.  After careful planning, we were able to build our dream into this plan.  Hopefully, though, we can make our plan a reality as well.  Just as man explored the entire Earth, we are exploring the entire universe.  With this lunar base, mankind can move onto bigger and better things.

Made on June 26, 1998
IMSA Summer AD'Ventures II
Vinnie, Robert, Sunny