Students Develop Prototype Habitats for Outer Space Living

Students Develop Prototype Habitats for Outer Space Living Table of Contents

Space Architecture Course at MIT
From Apollo to Artemis
Collaboration across Disciplines
Designing Lunar Habitats
Challenges in Space Design
Training for Space Architecture
Conclusion

Space Architecture Course at MIT

With the introduction of a novel course at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) came a remarkable achievements by enrolled students to complete a collaborative project of creating a prototype habitat for humans to use in outer space.

From Apollo to Artemis

Apollo was the first project under NASA to visit moon and collect samples, but that was it. Under Artemis project, NASA has taken a step forward by introducing objectives of establishing long-term bases around orbits, and on moon’s surface itself.

Collaboration across Disciplines

Collaboration and enthusiasm of MIT’s students and instructors alike in working on NASA’s new mission is deeply rooted in MIT’s major involvement in Apollo mission and the award given to its astronauts by NASA in 1961. Dava Newman, one of the course instructor, was the NASA’s former deputy director.

The course was an interdisciplinary effort between the Departments of Architecture, Aeronautics, Astronautics, and MIT Media Lab’s Space Exploration group. A class of thirty five students foresaw the completion of their prototype along with their instructors and advisors.

Students were divided into seven teams to develop their projects, and the value of collaboration quickly became apparent.

A major defining feature was this shoulder to shoulder collaboration between architecture and engineering students, who approached their projects with versatility of their education and mindset. Meeting challenges put forth with multiple perspectives eventually gave them the edge they needed for prototype completion.

Architects approached the astronomical problem through functional, social, and emotional lens, while their engineering colleagues were deeply focused on economic and technological implications for design and material.

Initially becoming a challenge later turned fruitful was the teams’ communication skills, as all parties realized its significance during the initial stages of their project. Engineers demanded clear information regarding structural integrity, material properties, and functionality, while discussions among architects’ group revolved around conceptual and aesthetic matters, including visual impact, spatial dynamics, and user experience.

Designing Lunar Habitats

ICON’s 3D printing facilities for construction in Austin, Shared activities, guest lectures, and a week touring NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, and SpaceX launch facility in Brownsville, Texas all gave the 35 students opportunity to meet teams that were already working in this field.

The teams that were divided for different projects in creating the final result began with a concept phase where the architects — who wanted to create a comfortable and livable habitat — often conflicted with the engineers, who were more focused on the realities of the extreme environment.

Inflatable designs emerged in several projects: a modular inflatable mobile science library that could support up to four people; an inflatable habitat that can be deployed within minutes to provide short-term shelter and protection for a crew on the moon; and a semi-permanent in situ habitat for space exploration ahead of an established lunar base.

Further training of space architecture has been seriously discussed among teachers and scholars as current enrollments are barely thriving in space exploration and technical advancements. The longer humans stay in outer space and cross new feats in space exploration, the more need arise for a long-term sustainable habitats for them.

Challenges in Space Design

Current research in space designs reveal some crucial facts for the future of space exploration and technology:

Space is one of the most hostile environments out there. The more we become curious the more chances of losing our life
For students at MIT, they realized the limitations of materials and their attached costs for creating a completely functional prototype
As more need arise, research in this field requires utmost attention
Hands-on experience of creating life-size models was especially needed for this novel course

Training for Space Architecture

Conclusion

The Space Architecture course at MIT represents a significant milestone in preparing students for the challenges of space habitation, aligning with NASA’s ambitious Artemis program to establish sustainable lunar bases.

By fostering collaboration across disciplines such as architecture and engineering, MIT has cultivated a unique environment where innovative thinking meets practical challenges. Through hands-on projects like inflatable habitats and extensive industry exposure, students grappled with the complexities of space design, from structural integrity to human comfort and sustainability.

This course not only honors MIT’s legacy in space exploration but also underscores its commitment to training future pioneers in space architecture, ensuring that humanity’s next chapter beyond Earth is both feasible and compelling.