Moon Colony:
Life on the Moon
 

"What would it be like to live on the moon?" This was the challenge presented the 7th and 8th graders. They were divided into working groups of three and were told to design a moon colony, build a model, and document the science behind the model.

phases of the moon
 Moon colony picture
 The colony would require many interconnected resources for the centralized city.

The groups found out a lot about the moon. They used the information from their research to produce the models shown on this page. The facts that influenced their creations were:

There is no atmosphere on the moon, and a weak magnetic field. The general solution to the lack of atmosphere was to create atmospherically controlled domes that would enclose all or most of the colony.

The terrain is mostly rocky and there is no water. The ice craters recently discovered could not be depended on to support the colonies. No plants or animals could be expected to survive off the rocky and sandy surface. The general solution to this was to artificially produce the water necessary. One group suggested a bio-dome which would house the plants and animals needed for sustenance.

The gravity on the moon is much lower than that on earth. Though floating in space seems an ideal mode of transportation, the groups found that not using their limbs would cause the legs of the colonist to eventually atrophy. The solution to transport, proposed by one group, was hover cars and some sort of weights to force the colonists to use their endangered limbs.

Because there is no atmosphere and no magnetic field, the moon has been the victim of harsh solar winds and meteorites. To avoid the constant crashes of meteorites, one group suggested a defense satellite whose only purpose was destroying potential impact sources like meteorites.Model showing satellite 
        view of the moon
 
 This model shows a satellite view of the moon. It displays the moon converted into a earth-like colony.

 Moon colony condo
 Shared resources like this condominium above, and the botanical gardens below, are best for the limited space and resources at the moon colony.
 Moon colony gardens
 Moon gardens must be built inside structures as opposed to being exposed to the dust and rocks on the surface.
 Moon colony dome
This view shows the colony completely enclosed in a transparent dome. The dome provides protection from meteors, climate and atmosphere control.
 Moon rocket for meteors
This defense rocket revolves around the colony to zap approaching meteors.
 Moon colony bio-dome
 This view shows the colony's Bio-Dome. This is where live plants and animals are kept. This colony contains a series of underground tunnels and hover cars, not shown, which are used for transportation.


Return to the Living on the Moon introduction page.

Go to New Hope Academy, an international private school in Maryland.


NEW HOPE ACADEMY: An international private school in PG county, MD