From Gateway to HALO
Using Design Principles, create a scaled version of the Lunar Gateway including the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module capable of hosting two astronauts.
Text version of infographic entitled "The engineering design process"
The engineering design process
- Problem or challenge
- Define the problem
- Identify the constraints on your solution (e.g. time, money, materials) and criteria for success
- Brainstorm multiple solutions for the problem
- Select the most promising solution
- Prototype your solution
- Test and evaluate your prototype
- Iterate to improve your prototype
- Communicate your solution
Infographic entitled "The engineering design process
". (Credit: Canadian Space Agency [CSA])
Define
The Lunar Gateway will orbit the Moon and serve as a stepping stone for future lunar exploration. Unlike the International Space Station (ISS) whose size is close to a football field, the Lunar Gateway will be much smaller, or about the size of two small school buses. Astronauts will have limited space while stationed at the HALO. They will need to perform experiments, command the Gateway, eat, rest, exercise, etc. while in an area no larger than one small bus. Their living quarters need to be designed while keeping efficiency and flow in mind. The HALO will have docking stations to receive visiting vehicles and the ability for future modules to be added to the Gateway, as needed, and will be powered by exterior solar panels.
Your challenge is to build a scale model of the Lunar Gateway. You may want to consider using a two-litre pop bottle or two, or an equivalent cylindrical shape or make your own cylinder using other materials. Your Lunar Gateway must contain at least four of its various components, including the HALO with a few designated areas inside the HALO for the astronauts, solar panels, the Power and Propulsion Element, and Canadarm3. You can take things further by adding more of the modules and components such as the I-Hab, D-Hab, Orion spacecraft, etc.
Learn about Canada's role in the Lunar Gateway!
Identify
Design and build a scale model of the Lunar Gateway.
Your scale model must include at least four components of the Lunar Gateway:
- HALO with four sections inside designated for astronaut tasks and purpose
- Power and Propulsion Element
- Two solar panels
- Canadarm3
Suggested materials
- Two-litre pop bottles (or other materials to create cylindrical shapes)
- Cardboard
- Fasteners (binder clips, brads, pipe cleaners, string, tape, glue)
- Scissors or cardboard cutters
- Ruler or measuring tape
- Adhesives like tape, glue, or homemade glue
- Hot glue gun (optional)
- Paper or graph paper
- Any repurposed materials you have on hand (egg cartons, straws, Popsicle sticks, skewers, rocks, twigs, branches, etc.)
- Variety of paints, coloured paper, tinfoil, or any other available embellishments
Text version of infographic showing a few cardboard cutting and folding techniques
A few cardboard cutting and folding techniques
- Flange
- L-brace
- Tabs
- Slot + cut
- Slot + tab
- String
A few cardboard cutting and folding techniques. (Credit: CSA)
Brainstorm
What is different between living on Earth and living in space? Depending on the mission objective, what do you need to have in your HALO in order to fulfill your job requirements and still maintain a work/life balance during your time in space? What do you need to live and work comfortably? What are some limitations and challenges that you will need to overcome? Given a limited area, how can you optimize the area you have to provide multi-functioning space? How will the lack of gravity in outer space have an effect on your design?
| Number | Compartment/ Module |
Dimensions (cm / cm² / cm³) |
Ratio of the module compared to your Gateway model |
Percentage | Decimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HALO | - | - | - | - |
| 2 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 4 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 5 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 6 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 7 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 8 | - | - | - | - | - |
Overall dimensions of your Lunar Gateway replica:
Select
What is your most promising solution that will fit all of these essentials into your plan? What materials do you have available which could affect the implementation of your design?
Design example of the Lunar Gateway and some of its components. Reference for students for potential ideas. (Credit: CSA)
Prototype
- Sketch out your main design idea, to scale, on paper or graph paper.
- Gather a variety of recyclables to use as construction materials. Please take a look at the suggested cardboard connections to help bring your ideas to life and learn some new cardboard prototyping skills.
- Based on the prioritized ratio that you have identified in the chart, build the main structure of your HALO module and create areas for each of your compartments. Use cardboard attachments like slots, tabs, flanges and brackets to connect compartments and the other modules.
- Add details to each compartment that will identify its purpose: bed, toilet, charging station, laboratory equipment, etc.
- Label those detailed parts of your model for easy identification.
Test
How is your design conducive to a good work/life balance for the astronaut(s)? What can you do to ensure that two astronauts can move around the HALO safely? How will you ensure there are areas for expansion for future modules to be added to the Lunar Gateway?
Iterate
Sometimes things don't always go as planned, especially in outer space. Choose one of the situations below and make the necessary modifications to your Lunar Gateway or HALO module design to meet that challenge.
- A serious medical emergency
- Extra cargo
- Power failure
- New module to be docked
- Isolate a compartment due to a safety breach
Communicate
- Share your design. What are the most important parts of your HALO and your model Lunar Gateway? What were your biggest challenges? What are some areas for improvement?
- Share your project with the CSA. Ask an adult to share a picture on social media and tag the CSA accounts. You never know, a real astronaut or engineer might see your creation!
Taking it further
- Can you research your components or modules and better understand their purpose?
- Can you add more modules to your design to complete the entire Lunar Gateway?
- Can you find information about what the astronauts will be doing in the HALO?
- Enhance your design by incorporating your favourite micro-controller, like the micro:bit or CPX to add lights, sound, sensors, or motors to your Lunar Gateway.
- Light up your HALO by adding LEDs with a simple circuit, or paper circuit, and a battery.
- Use Lego to build a new module to be added to your HALO.
- Write a poem, song, story, comic, or play about your life aboard the HALO.
- Create a green screen video of life aboard the HALO and Lunar Gateway.
- 3D design and/or 3D print parts for your HALO or Lunar Gateway.
- Can you create an interactive HALO or Lunar Gateway using Scratch?
- Can you design a functional locking mechanism for new modules to safely attach to the Gateway?
Curriculum links
- Measurement:
- Number sense
- Standard measurement (cm)
- Ratios, percentages, and decimals
- Square area and volume
- Sketching, labeling, and mapping
- Creativity, critical thinking and problem solving, communication and collaboration
- Design thinking