AIAA Space Architecture Symposium AIAA 2002-6102 10-11 October 2002, Houston, Texas THE VERNACULAR OF SPACE ARCHITECTURE Kriss J. Kennedy, Space Architect NASA Johnson Space Center ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Space architecture is a unique, undeveloped Space structures—whether a space station, an field. There have been many glimpses into the interplanetary transfer spacecraft, a Moon or future of space architecture via comic books, Mars base, or some futuristic space hotel—all cartoons, and movies that conjure up fanciful share common architectural elements. These massive stations and 100-kilometer Moon or elements are pressure vessels (for living, Mars domes. However, realistic space working, and logistics), docking or berthing architecture started when the space race put connections for spacecraft, transition spaces humans into orbit, then progressed with the (airlocks and nodes), support structure, power Apollo moon missions and the initial space collection and distribution, thermal control, stations. Space Architecture has now evolved communications, and propulsion with guidance into the International Space Station that is 220 and control. This paper focuses on the pressure nautical miles in orbit above Earth. As NASA vessels or habitats, but gives a brief overview of and the space community look beyond low Earth the other elements of space architecture. orbit to interplanetary spacecraft, space facilities at libration points, and Moon and Mars bases, The space environment heavily influences the the beginnings of a true and real space design of the space architecture elements. architecture vernacular of the early twenty-first Pressure vessels can consist of laboratories, century takes shape. habitats, interconnecting modules (nodes), airlocks, and areas for logistics, storage, and This paper describes the current vernacular of work. Currently all of these large and heavy Space Architecture of the early twenty-first preintegrated pressure vessels are brought from century. At this juncture of the century, Space Earth on a launch vehicle. Eventually, as our Architecture is comprised of launch vehicles, space civilization evolves, we will be able to live pressure vessels (modules) and the systems to off the “land,” producing and manufacturing support human life. Of course many elements, habitats on other planetary bodies. systems, and hardware are involved within these broad categories. The launch vehicles are a part SPACE ARCHITECTURE ELEMENTS of this vernacular because they constrain the size and mass that will be transported to orbit. The basic vernacular of space architecture draws This paper focuses mainly on the habitable its vocabulary from a modular kit of space systems of space architecture—the pressure elements. An orbital station, an interplanetary vessels or modules that provide the primary spacecraft, and a planetary surface base have structures and contain the atmosphere to enable common elements. All architectural solutions humans to live and work in space. require a transportation system to take these elements to space, an infrastructure to provide structural support, and utilities to provide functionality. The transportation system places constraints on the size and mass of the element being delivered to space—much as ground 1 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Copyright © 2002 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. No copyright is asserted in the United States under Title 17, U.S. Code. The U.S. Government has a royalty-free license to exercise all rights under the copyright claimed herein for Governmental purposes. All other rights are reserved by the copyright owner. transportation does for terrestrial building Microgravity, with its absence of a strong components. gravitational force, presents challenges and opportunities for designers of orbital and transfer The infrastructure for a n orbital facility or an habitats. The microgravity environment interplanetary spacecraft includes structural arrays eliminates the physical need for normal up and or a truss system to attach power systems, down orientation and the typical area method of radiators, berthing ports, airlocks, and living space allocation. It provides an opportunity to modules. Utilities include power generation and use volume rather than area. The International distribution, removal of excess waste h eat through Space Station (ISS) is a good exam ple of the use radiators, communications, and propulsion with of volume. guidance and control (GN&C). The infrastructure for a planetary surface base includes living Induced artificial gravity on transportation modules, airlocks, power generation and systems incurs a mass penalty over microgravity distribution, radiators, berthing/docking ports, systems, depending on configuration and communications , and surface transportation. propulsion system selection (Capps, 1991). It There are many papers and books about the has not been conclusively proven that these design of these space elements. The following are syste ms are required for Mars transportation, but major elements in space architecture. if they are, since mass translates to cost in space transportation, the added mass translates to at • Habitat least 5 -15% additional development cost. • Laboratory Environments with less gravity than that on Earth • Node (transition element) pose interesting ha bitat design challenges. Human physical reactions and performance in a • Airlock reduced gravity environment differ from those in • Berthing/docking systems Earth gravity. The main difference is that microgravity places less restriction on human • Logistic supply locomotion than does the gravity of Earth, whe re • Structural system the specific up and down orientation and reach envelopes increase volume requirements. • Power system • Thermal system Planetary dust is a potential problem for any planetary surface element system or activity that • Communications system is repetitive or has long -term exposure. A layer of fine dust -like pa rticles (regolith) covers the • Propulsion with GN&C Moon's surface. Lunar dust is very abrasive and Space Environmental Factors can cause many problems if it gets into mechanical equipment or the human lungs. The Space habitats are designed to sustain human Apollo missions experienced many problems life in the inhospitable environment of space. associated with lunar dust contaminating the These habitats are pressurized vessels which Luna r Module and surface equipment. Mars dust include laboratories, living facilities, support is much less understood than lunar dust. The systems, and repair/maintenance facilities. The Viking landers provided data that lead scientists space environment is characterized by its to believe that Mars dust is much like dirt on vacuum, orbital debris, microgravity (on orbital Earth. This suggests that Mars dust will be less space stations and transfer missions), partial of a design issue th an lunar dust, but certainly gravity, radi ation, and planetary dust. These not something to ignore. Lunar and Mars dust characteristics are the major design challenges can adhere to most objects and cause problems for space habitation. that will influence design of new exploration systems. 2 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics The goal of dust control is to limit dust • Space-delivered with immediate capability penetration into a mechanism or envir onment. If an effective dust control program is not • Volume and mass limited to launch payload implemented, the results will be a higher number size capability and mass capability of mechanism failures, and increases in risks, CLASS II: Prefabricated – Space/Surface- maintenance, repairs, resupply, and contamination Assembled Characteristics of the living environment. The latter is of particular concern because of its effect on the crew's health • Earth -manufactured and the crew accommodation systems. Dust characteristics and design solutions are • Requires space assembly or deployment discussed in many articles, reports, and papers. • Requires robotic and human time during assembly Space Habitats • Partial integration capability fo r subsystems Space habitats are categorized into three • Requires some or all internal outfitting classes. Class I i s preintegrated —entirely emplacement manufactured, integrated, and ready to operate when delivered to space. Class II is prefabricated • Critical subsystems are Earth -based and and is space- or surface-deployed with some tested prior to launch assembly or setup required. Class III is in -situ • Requires assembly prior to operability derived, with its structure manufacture d using local resources available on the Moon or Mars. • Allows for larger volumes Figure 1 shows the relationship of habitat • Less restricted to launch vehicle size or mass technology, habitat classes, and time. The next capability few sections present a top -level discussion of space habitat design considerations for the CLA SS III: In -Situ Derived and Constructed various elements t hat make up space Characteristics architecture. • Manufactured in -situ with space resources • Space-constructed • Requires manufacturing capability and infrastructure • Requires robotic and human time during construction • Requires integration of subsystems • Requires all internal outfitting emplacement • Critical subsystems are Earth -based and tested prior to launch • Requires assembly to become operable Figure 1. Habitat Classifications • Allows for larger volumes • Not restricted to launch vehicle size or