Diagram of modular exploration system: pressure vessel, tertiary structures, power systems, EVA, and mobility. Credits: A. Scott Howe, Phd
At the 45th International Conference on Environmental Systems, A. Scott Howe, PhD presented a paper on a novel modular system for human habitation to support planetary and space exploration. The paper addresses the design requirements including mass and volume constraints to enable a variety of missions and environments. The concept was developed as recommended by NASA’s Evolvable Mars Campaign for a compact modular system and was assumed to be launched using the Space Launch System currently in the final stages of development. Howe settled on a horizontal module as the most appropriate with a single small diameter solution for fixed-sized habitats, expandable habitats, small rover cabins and a variety of other applications for both in-space and planetary surface operations.
Artist’s impression of a fleet of worldships on an interstellar voyage. Credits: Michel LaMontage / Initiative for Interstellar Studies
In the August 2020 Issue of Principium, Richard Soilleux summarizes current research on the feasibility of interstellar voyages via multi-generation worldships. The starting point is assumed to be free flying orbital settlements as envisioned by Gerard K. O’Neill that will eventually be tooling around the solar system way before a trip to the stars would be possible. The baseline for the analysis was an orbital space settlement called Avalon, the result of a complex study by the British Interplanetary Society called the BIS Space Project which took a fresh look at O’Neill’s smallest habitat Island 1, a settlement that would house 10,000 inhabitants.
Artist’s impression of the Avalon orbital settlement. Credits: Mark Hempsell / Initiative for Interstellar Studies
Much of the technology needed for an interplanetary ship like Avalon could be leveraged for an interstellar craft, but there are several challenges for permanent occupation over many generations as would be needed for a trip to the stars. For example, the ships would obviously have to be much more robust and reliable. Design lifetimes of 1000 years, as what is estimated to be needed, would require rigorous maintenance and repair schedules. Major periodic replacement of damaged or worn components and obsolete parts would also be required.
Soilleux’s analysis breaks down the key features of the settlement in terms of technology readiness and extrapolates to the interstellar case. One key element of the design is the environmental control and life support system (ECLSS). Avalon’s ECLSS does not need to be fully closed when voyages are limited to within the solar system as there are plenty of resources to replace nutrients and materials that cannot be recycled. Interstellar voyages are another matter all together and the study found that the recycling rate needs to be better than 90% for at least 36% of a material to remain useable after 100 years. This ratio would have to be significantly higher for an interstellar journey, the duration of which could be an order of magnitude longer. Soilleux concludes that “Recycling must therefore be managed carefully, and a detailed inventory maintained of all materials and nutrients wherever they are in the system.”
ECLSS technology is clearly one of the gating items for space settlement in the solar system and for journeys beyond. More information and research can be found in the Life Support Section.
Artist’s rendering of the TESSERAE concept, showing self-assembling multi-module space station in orbit around Mars. Credits: TU Dortmund Fraunhofer Institute in collaboration with MIT Media Lab via AIAA
In a paper presented at the AIAA SciTech 2019 Forum, Ariel Ekblaw and Joseph Paradiso of the MIT Media Lab described a concept for a self assembling space station called TESSERAE, which stands for Tessellated Electromagnetic Space Structures for the Exploration of Reconfigurable, Adaptive Environments. The innovative design constructs buckminsterfullerene (“bucky ball”) modules from polyhedral tile sets that utilize a smart sensor network to detect bonds and actuate electromagnets to facilitate autonomous assembly. The resulting structure approximates a spherical shape thereby minimizing surface area (and launch cost) for a given livable space.
In collaboration with MIT Media Lab and as a visiting student, Anastasia Prosina, now the cofounder and CEO of the space architecture company Stellar Amenities, had 3 weeks to design the interior of the habitat to make the most efficient use of livable volume taking into account human factors and minimization of weight for a crew of 8 over a 3 month mission. The results of her work is showcased in the Stellar Amenities portfolio on the firm’s website. Of particular note is how the design borrowed from Japanese architectural concepts such as “Metabolism”, a post-war movement that blended ideas from architectural megastructures with those of organic biological growth. Using Human-Centered Design and a combination of skills in architecture, aerospace and art, the company creates functional yet pleasing environments for space habitats where mass and volume need to be minimized. There is even a meditation corridor for serene self reflection in space.
Layout showing the location of the Habitation Core within a TESSERAE module. Credits: Stellar AmenitiesMeditation corridor within the TESSERAE habitat. Credits: Stellar Amenities
Update 24 April, 2022: Axiom Space’s Ax-1 mission to the ISS tested prototypes of the TESSERAE tiles in space. From the Axiom Space press release: “The prototypes launching on the Ax-1 mission include an extensive suite of sensing and electro-permanent magnets that monitor diagnostics – provide insight into the quality of bonds between tiles – and drive conformations. This scaled demonstration will build on previous microgravity evaluations of the TESSERAE experiment to explore a new frontier for in-orbit construction of satellites and future space habitats.”
TESSERAE in the ISS cupola — photo taken during the Axiom-1 mission. Credits: Ax-1 crew/ISS
Dr. Ekblaw provides and update on the Ax-1 mission at about 3 minutes into this Axiom Space Video.
Lunar dust caked on an astronaut’s space suit. Credits: NASA
Researchers at the University of Colorado at Bolder have discovered a promising method for cleaning lunar dust off of space suits and other surfaces likely to be contaminated on the Moon. The solution could be zapping the nasty grit with an electron beam.
Lunar dust sticks to just about everything because it acquires an electrostatic charge from the solar wind. By directing an electron beam at the surface contaminated with dust particles, an excess negative charge will build up resulting in the grains repelling each other and leaping off the surface where the beam is applied. Taking an electron beam shower may be how lunar settlers clean off before coming inside after walks on the Moon.
