The Moon Base and Life in Space

Enjoy making the replica of the moon base near the Shackleton Crater. Why Shackleton Crater? Because NASA found frozen water here. The model is created to show how the water from the Shackleton Crater can be harnessed and used for sustaining life and creating a living habitat.

The fun part of building the lunar base is putting the papers together with glue and applying the cement to create the surface of the moon. Kid will love working on this project...

The final outcome is a lovely grey lunar base...complete with life, of course...

Base Board

Pick a thick, rigid board for the base. I used a white board that measured 24 inches by 18 inches and about 0.4cm thickness. You may construct any size base you want while still having fun making the moon base.

Accessories for create the Moon Structure

1. Scissors and paper cutter (Adult supervision needed if kids are cutting board)
2. Markers, pencils, and pens
3. Additional boards to support the side wall
4. Recycled Papers
5. Steel scale to cut the board in the straight line (Adult supervision/support is required)
6. Glue gun to stick the boards and the framework together

Fun stuff to create the Moon Base and living Habitat

1. Clear plastic bottles (to use as connectors between the hubs)
2. A few toy figurines
3. Plants (kids can grown some real plants and place them inside the dome)
4. Led lights (if you have one)
5. And anything that you want to place on the moon

The Base

Place the base board and assemble the side supports columns by glueing the side support to the base board.

Columns on the sides

Construct some 'V' fold columns to help support the sides. To achieve an outward inclined angle, cut the support columns in the base at an angle so that they slant outward when glued to the base...

Steps:

1. Place the base board on the floor
2. Glue the columns along the sides of the board. To reinforce the glue, you can use sellotape to secure the columns
3. Paste the long rectangular columns along the side pasting them to the standing columns
4. Cover the corner with additional boards.
5. Once done, you will have the base done

Under the hood...

Take a long piece of paper board and attach it in a circular shape, then glue it to the base to make the elevated crater ring.

Reinforcement

Begin by using long pieces of paper boards to link the support columns and the crater. If necessary, add support beneath the strips. Gun glue works fast and firmly holds the strips of boards

Layer of paper mache

Place the paper layers one on top of the other, using glue to connect them. Use an old paint brush to apply the glue over the paper...and keep pasting a few layers of papers one over the other gradually shaping the surface of the craer and the moon. Complete the moon's surface by glueing the papers together.

To create more smaller craters...use small rings using the board...paste on the surface and glue papers around to look like a crater.

Steps:

1. Take long strip soft board. See that the height of the board is higher than the base (so the crater's height is above the surface of the moon)
2. Curve the board to a circular shape and past it inside the board.
3. Cut long narrow strips of papers/board and paste them from the edges to the circular board...converging to the centre. Apply glue and paste the papers one over the other.
4. Create a hollow shape curve in side the circle with the strips of boards and paste them all together in the centre
5. Now take recycled papers...and start pasting them and shape the surface of the moon...
6. Continue to paste the papers all over the top part to cover the complete surface with the papers
7. Get creative...create mountains and valleys too if you want

Creating the Face of the Moon

Start applying cement to the moon's face. Mix cement with water and glue to a thick paint consistency. There are no rules in this game... Spread the cement with pleasure...Kids would love to do this...let them create their own landscape of the moon surface

Allow it to dry.

Allow for a day of drying time after putting the cement layer before getting creative.

Steps:

1. Mix enough grey cement with equal portions water and glue to get a thick paste like consistency.
2. Apply the cement across the surface
3. Enjoy spreading the mixture all over the board
4. Add little textures and shapes to get realistic
5. After completely cementing...let it dry for a couple of days

Time to decorate...

Give moon a life...make it lively with anything that you have to setup and play with. Kids would love to explore the moon with their own imaginative world.

Place any toy the kid has...cars, trucks, earth movers, airplane, rocket, legos...Allow the kids to get as imaginative as they can in building their own Moon Base in the Space.

Strips of led lights make it more lively...go ahead and set it up. No rules again.

Experience and Enjoy the moon base...

Nano Bot

Well! Don't forget to take the 'Nano' with you to the moon...