Esa Space Camp 2016 - Team Lab2Moon

[vert]The challenge: Imagine, design and build[/vert] a project that would catalyse the evolution of mankind as a sustainable multi-planetary species. TeamIndus believes that in the future, mankind will not be bound only to earth and that ideas pushing sustainable living will have benefits on earth and beyond.

That means a team of upto three people have to conceive a project from the point of view of sustainability. It could range from investigating how seeds grow in space through to examining new possibilities in renewable energy. The project should fit the dimensions of a soda can, and weigh under 250 grams. It should also be able to connect with the on-board computer.

[vert]They have until the 20th of August 2016 to apply[/vert] and send their project. Shortlisted entries will be asked to build a prototype and invited to showcase it to an international jury at the TeamIndus HQ in Bangalore, India, early next year. The winning project will get to ride to the moon!

[vert]LAB2MOON seeks to challenge young minds[/vert] to come up with unique experiments that help in this journey.
The TeamIndus mission is designed to be democratic, inclusive and driven by the people. Lab2Moon reflects that ethos and is designed to drive interest in science and technology and inspire a generation of youngsters to become change-makers.

Here is what the team of the ESA space camp did :

Electricity on the moon

[vert]Team members: [/vert]
Anna Dolce, Katherine Walsh, Jeanne Bally, Charlotte Pierrat, Norika Bartholomae

[vert]Concept:[/vert]
A thermostatic bi-metal will help generate electricity on the moon for the future to come. This experiment will help us to understand the drastic temperature change of the moon and figure out an effective and eco-friendly way to minimize wasted energy.
The average temperature on the moon’s surface is 110 degrees. However when sunlight hits the moon’s surface the temperature can reach 123 degrees Celsius. Where as in the shaded surface of the moon, there can be a temperature of minus 153 degrees Celsius. Therefore due to the extreme temperature variations that there are, it would be possible to generate electricity by using the heat during the day, the cold during the night.

[vert]Hypothesis:[/vert]
We predict that the energy produced by the bi metal will be on a large scale as there is a large range of temperature change on the moon.

[vert]Method:[/vert]
We believe that the change in temperature will occur randomly and so triggering the thermostatic bi-metal to change its form, and as a consequence the change of form will be detected by the piezoelectric sensor which will generate electricity.

[vert]Conduct of experiment:[/vert]
For the lab2moon project we need the following:
1- Transportation container
2- Thermostatic bi-metal: steel and brass
3- Piezoelectric sensor
4- Voltmeter that will transfer data to the on board computer 5- Wires

[vert]Approach:[/vert]
• Understand the project (requirements and criteria)
• Think about how we would like to live on the moon (inside a capsule?)
• Take into account the factors we need to live on the moon (oxygen, light, carbon dioxide,
nitrogen and hydrogen)
• Researched previous experiments (LADEE)
• Work on pollution to stop further damage (thought that we were just leaving the earth all
polluted to then live on the moon and pollute a fresh new planet)
• Attempt to grow something for future crops on the moon (land a plant at specific height)
• Acknowledged the dust problem on the moon
• Interacted with children between ages of 8-12 to have a more open perspective (inspired by
NASA)
• Encountered the idea of using geothermal energy (use energy from the core of the moon,
however the experiment would be impossible as the core is too deep down)
• Produce electricity in other ways:
 Use origami (fold paper into three dimensional springs, however it would need a large scale)

 Shape memory alloys (materials that will return to there shape and the change of there form could create mechanical energy which could then be converted into electrical energy, however would be too complicated to fit in a small scale, the size of a can)
 Peltier cells (use of nuclear energy to create electricity, however too dangerous and ESA and other agencies in Europe do not accept nuclear usage in space)
 TEG (thermoelectric generator)
 RTG (radioisotope thermoelectric generator)
 Thermostatic bi-metal ( final idea, which can be done simply with two metals so could easily fit inside the can)

[vert]Conclusion :[/vert]
In conclusion if we ever have to live on the moon in the future we will need electricity: with our experiment we will be able to see if we can acquire this energy naturally and use directly the resources of the moon. Our experiment will help create a more eco-friendly solution for the future of urbanism on the moon.
We haven’t yet had the opportunity to experiment this project, but future experiments will help us identify specific points, such as if the energy produced with the thermostatic bi-metal will be large or small. Furthermore even if the quantity of energy produced is small, we know that there are already methods such as nano-particles to capture nano voltage to create a larger current.