UK SPACE DESIGN COMPETITION

Ubiquity

Birds eye view of living space

Cross section of entire unit

Material ReasonAluminium tiles

(innermost and outermost layers)

- Sustain meteorite impact at speeds of 5.5 – 7.5 km/s- Comprises shield of unit- Absorbs alpha radiation emitted by regolith

Lunar regolith(6m, made into blocks)

- Absorbs background lunar radiation- Readily available on the Moon- To prevent radiation sickness and exposure from solar flares- Withstand meteorites travelling at high speeds (dependant upon diameter) - Acts as thermal insulation, maintaining a constant temperature within the unit

RXF1 = 300 compressed sheets of polyethylene

(15cm, density 1.11g/cm^3)

- 2.6 times lighter than aluminium with three times the tensile strength- Primarily hydrogen and carbon atoms; hydrogen interacts with charged particles of Galactic Cosmic Rays- Shields against solar flares and cosmic rays (better than aluminium)- Efficient in resisting meteorite impacts due to tensile strength

Superconducting magnet –17T

-Superconducting magnet systems create intense magnetic fields with little or no electrical power input- Can maintain a stable magnetic field for long periods of time (with correct temperature)- Magnetic field can be used as protection against charged radiation- Needs to be kept at around 150 C (would need more solar panels to ⁰generate energy to maintain such a low temperature)

Radiation

Lunar gravity• Lunar gravity (≈1.63N) is 1/6 of Earth’s gravity (≈ 9.81N)

• Artificial gravity would be impractical for everyday life (entire unit rotating)

• Long term effects = muscle atrophy and reduction in bone density

• Subjects need to be prepared (suspension from a wall letting the subject experience walking with 1/6th of their mass)

• Centrifuge, spinning the subjects 30 times a minutes in order to create the effect of standing against a force. One hour per day would be adequate to repair muscle synthesis and restore potential muscle growth

• The chronic use of ibuprofen and acetaminophen whilst training (e.g. weights) improves the metabolic reaction to exercise (inducing intramuscular changes) which would mean more protein synthesis in the muscles

• Gene therapy, IGF-1 (Phase II Clinical Trial ) increases synthesis of proteins needed by muscles. IGF-1 in retrovirus which would replicate rather than daily injections (IGF-1 = short half life)

• If the family were to return to Earth they would require medication and a physiotherapist

Recycling

• Average family consumption on Earth is 19800Kwh.• Likely to use at least double this consumption on lunar settlement (heating etc.)• Japanese research shows by putting a ring of solar cells around the moon (11000km long and 400km wide) 2.9kW per m²

would be produced• 60m² of solar panels needed, each producing 1078kW per annum• Panels placed on the settlement• Nickel hydrogen batteries used to store some energy for small periods of darkness

• Recycling scheme for water, carbon dioxide, food and waste.• Carbon dioxide will be fed into the greenhouse. • Water from sanitation units will lead to a collection tank where it will be heated (101 C) and distilled. Steam will condense in ⁰

a tube where the water will filter through layers of grass, sand, charcoal and rock. Leaving pure water, operated by computer, to be sent where necessary.

• Solid sanitation waste will be incinerated using the heating plate (made of carbon steel).

Heating plate

Filtration system

Water storage tank

Power

Food Production• Food grown using a method called ‘hydroponics’ within the greenhouse

• Seeds will be placed in 1m deep of gravel and sand. This will be flooded periodically with liquid nutrients.

• Initially, the family would need to live on rations till the crop grows

•These specific crops provide essential nutrients

• Can also be turned into other types of food (e.g. soybeans → tofu/soymilk) providing a more balanced diet.

• Calcium and Vitamin D supplements would be required to improve bone quality.

• Antioxidants, Vitamin C and Omega 3 supplements to reduce the effects of long term exposure to radiation

• Dietary agents to help with recovery from radiation damage, they stimulate the growth of surviving stem cells/lengthen the duration of the cell cycle providing a longer period where genes can be checked and repaired (used to treat people exposed to radiation on Earth)

Outline of land use for crops in greenhouse: