BASE: Bubble Architecture Space Environments

As we make the transition from space visitor to space inhabitant, with an anticipated opening up of Earth orbit to space tourism, and in the lead up to a return to the Moon and a manned mission to Mars, the many unanswered questions surrounding sustaining human life in space prompts the question of how we plan for the success of these endeavors. Earth based simulations do not truly represent the intricate factors of isolation in space. BASE is proposed as a ‘workshop’ or ‘hangar’, devised to accumulate data in-situ in-orbit, in its mission to develop and test ideas for new orbital habitats (research and recreational configurations), and capsule ‘mock-up’ habitats for interplanetary travel. An on-board centrifuge would replicate the gravity fields of the Moon and Mars to give a crew prolonged exposure to conditions at destination arrival. The next question is how to achieve a large pressurized enclosure for this multi-purpose application? It seems reasonable that one of the next evolutionary steps in space architecture will utilize inflatable technology. The cylindrical modules of the ISS have reached natural limitations in size, flexibility and the quality of space utilized by the astronauts. NASA’s Transhab module provided a promising alternative in the form of an inflatable enclosure deployed about a central service core. The inflatable has to perform to design parameters imposed by the extreme environment of space, including pressurization, radiation shielding, micrometeorite shielding and thermal control. The resultant heavy multi-layered enclosure imposed limitations on the geometry and volume achievable. BASE asks the question; given the current technologies available, what are the possibilities when exploring a hybrid approach, combining inflatable and shell enclosures? In this way the primary function of the inflatable skin is pressurization, protected by ‘armadillo’ shell segments providing radiation & micrometeorite shielding, in addition to thermal control. BASE explores interior planning and comments on what configuration might lead to the best utilization of the space by astronauts. As we move towards sustaining a long term human presence in space, it is essential that new ways are found to interact and stimulate the senses within encapsulated spaces. BASE explores the concept of transforming the inside of the enclosure into a media skin providing sensory input. In assessing the quality of the interior living spaces, this paper investigates the link between a sensory rich environment and notions of ephemeral design. Since the space shuttle is scheduled for decommission within the next decade, BASE also looks towards alternative vehicles for delivery to orbit. The author has been involved in the development and realization of pod architecture across a number of projects. As a terrestrial spin-up, the author comments on the quality of these spaces as possible references for space habitats.