Download Lunar Base

European Space Agency
Lunar Base
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency (ESA) is
an intergovernmental organization
dedicated to the exploration of space,
with 22 member states. Established in
1975 and headquartered in Paris, France,
ESA has a worldwide staff of about
2,000 and an annual budget of about
€5.25 billion / US$5.77 billion (2016)
The European Space Agency is pressing
forward in its plans to set up a permanent
human outpost on the moon.
This envisioned "moon village," a product of
international collaboration between
nations, will be a base for science, business,
mining and even tourism. So Europe is
ratcheting up what it sees as the strategic
significance of the moon by pushing
forward on lunar-exploration missions that
would involve both humans and robots.
European space planners envision a series of
human missions to the lunar vicinity starting
in the early 2020s. Those missions, according
to the plan, will include coordination
between astronauts and robotic systems on
the lunar surface. Robots would land first,
paving the way for human explorers to set
foot on the moon later.
ESA regards the moon as the next logical
destination for humans beyond low Earth
orbit, and utilizing Earth's nearest neighbor
should pave the way for human missions to
Mars
ESA Vision of Lunar Base
PBL Idea:
Explore alternative possibility to life on Earth.
Project to attempt would be to construct a dome, and fill it
with CO2 and observe the effect of the dome environment on
a number of plant types.
The goal of this activity:
(1) to think about the requirements for life on the Moon
(2) to stimulate students’ interest by solving the practical
problems this adventure poses.
Explore
1) The results of the exploration of Moon and the analyses of extreme
environments and organisms that live in extreme environments (i.e.,
Atmosphere, Soil, Temperature, Sunlight, Water).
2) The investigations of factors on Moon into a comparison of the conditions
existing on Moon to support life.
Explain
3) Their understanding and substantiation of what plants are most likely to be
strong candidates for a Moon Farm.
4) Where on the Moon is the most likely place to create a colony.
Elaborate
5) Students attempt to build a model of a Dome; or
6) Using equipment described to conduct authentic experiments on plants in
Moon conditions.
Interdisciplinary Planning
Science:
1) Biology: This portion first asks what are the minimal,
necessary conditions for life. This component may be used as
an adjunct to an Environment Science unit, or as part of
Scientific Method in a Biology class.
2) Chemistry: Explore the chemistry of soils and atmosphere,
how pressure temperature and volume interact, and how the
greenhouse phenomenon can be used to an advantage.
3) Physics: Explore the role of pressure on stress-bearing
components in this part of the unit. The physics of rocket
propulsion and interplanetary travel may be included.
4) Earth Science: A comparison of Earth and Moon geology
and atmospheric composition provides a basis for
understanding the feasibility of growing food in Moon soil.
5) Technology and Engineering: Building a mockup of a
“MoonDome” will require researching the origins of the
geodesic dome and its structural properties. A working dome
can be produced from Plexiglas that is sealed at the sides
and bottom. Extensions include altering the atmosphere,
pressure, temperature and soil inside using commercially
available equipment.
priority again?
Mathematics:
Calculations of size, force, pressure and more
English Language Arts:
Explorations of human emotions that might be expected.
Discussion of the difference between living in an artificial
habitat and truly living on Mars.
Social Studies:
Why did the space effort dwindle? Why is it restarting
now? What will the financial cost be, and what are other
options?
Sources:
1) http://www.space.com/31488-european-moon-base-2030s.html
2) NASA Endeavor Stem Teaching Certificate Project: MarsDome by Paul
Good