Home on Mars

Fall 2023

Long-Duration Space Habitation

A mission to Mars would take considerably longer due to the time it would take to travel to Mars, as well as the time the crew would have to stay on the surface of Mars to wait for the planets to align. This creates certain barriers in addition to existing space missions, such as:

Psychological Stress
Lack of Privacy
Lack of Sensory Stimulation
Habitable Volume

With that in consideration, it leads to the question: how might we?

Create spaces that are conducive to crew harmony.
Enable ways of sensory stimulation to help with isolation and confinement.
Design spaces that can facilitate relaxation in an enclosed environment.

Deployment

The structure of the habitat comprises a hybrid system, incorporating both an inflatable and an in-situ 3D printed structure. This innovative approach combines the advantages of internal volume provided by the inflatable structure, crucial for a long-duration space mission, with the protective capabilities of a 3D printed shell against the hazardous radiation on the surface of Mars.

Before the modules land, regolith is excavated to prepare the landing site. Once on the surface, the module unfolds and inflates, maximizing the internal space. Subsequently, the collected regolith is utilized in the 3D printing process to create a protective shell around the structure. This method enhances the habitat's resilience and shielding against the challenging Martian environment.

Floor Plan

The space habitat is divided into two modules, serving the dual purpose of segregating work and living areas and introducing redundancy. This strategic separation ensures that, in the event of an emergency, each module is capable of independently sustaining the crew. This redundancy not only enhances safety measures but also provides the crew with a viable backup, contributing to the overall resilience and reliability of the habitat system.

Internal Views

Living Room

Crew Cabin

Lab

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