Moon Base Alpha
MISSION 
"We came in peace for all mankind"

-Neil Armstrong, Apollo 11

Click here to complete the Quick Quiz! for this lesson. 

Click on Extended Mission for more fun activities, links, and resources on this topic.  Consider this topic for your Final Project!

Your mission consists of one assignment only in two parts. You will need to design an initial lunar base or future lunar colony located at the South Pole. Possible components include: mining and manufacturing facilities, greenhouses, habitats, laboratories, power plants, rocket ports, tools and equipment, transportation devices, communications systems, etc.  Make sure that you include a clearly labeled drawing (saved as a .jpg) in addition to a two-page description of your colony.  
Your lunar base will need to include a description for each area listed below.

Location

  • Base site, environmental condition adaptations: 1/6 gravity, vacuum, lunar dust/regolith, solar winds, cosmic radiation, temperature extremes, fortnightly day/night cycle, etc.
Architecture
  • Buildings, machines, roads, industries, laboratories, observatories, equipment, rovers, etc.
Personnel
  • Quantity; rotation; mix; ages; medical concerns; psychological needs; etc.
Activities
  • Life support, astronomy, lunar science/geology, manufacturing, power systems, communications, transportation, etc.
Governance
    Government, management, capitalization, funding, policies, etc.
Please include a timeline of mission events beginning with the year that the lunar base begins construction, when the first crew arrives, lunar base milestones and when it is fully operational.

Let your imagine go and have fun!  Use the links in the lessons and in the Extended Mission for ideas to help you get started.

Your assignment will be assessed using the following criteria. If your work meets all of the criteria below it will be considered exemplary. If one or two of the criteria are not met your work will be considered satisfactory. If more than three criteria are not met your work will be considered unsatisfactory and you will be asked to resubmit.
Unit 6        
Assignments Content Grammar Creativity/Originality Length
Design Challenge
Drawing		 Drawing is labeled Labels are grammatically correct and free from spelling errors. Base or colony is well thought out, and is easy to understand. Drawing is a jpg.
Design Challenge Description Description includes all required elements:
  • Location 
  • Architecture 
  • Personnel 
  • Activities 
  • Governance 
  • Timeline
 Content is grammatically correct and free from spelling errors. Description is clear and free of confusing terms. Description is two pages long (700 words)

Next... Extended Mission