InnSpace, a team of space dreamers in Poland has developed a Mars base concept called “Dome” which was selected among the best projects entered in the First Colony on Mars competition, organized as part of the Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival.
The innovative design uses shape memory materials that respond to the significant temperature swings on Mars. Adjusting to the daily extremes, petal-shaped portions of the dome extend toward the base center providing exposure to natural light while creating an enclosure for additional space and radiation shielding. The moving sections include self- cleaning solar panels.
Once the sun goes down, the petals return to their initial location adding insulation to the habitat during the cold of night.
Creative use of technology envisioned by InnSpace and others applied to the extremes of off-Earth environments will be essential for space settlement.
