HONEYCOMB
Following these four concepts, we have divided our settlement into six different modules, each with its own precise role. The Accommodation Module, the Science and Research Laboratory, the Life-Support Module, the Engineering Center, the Medical Module and the Command Center are, therefore, the building blocks of our future colony.
Basic module design Although our settlement comprises six different types of cells, each and every one of them has several key features in common. The basic module design is the foundation for every other component of the settlement, providing a flexible framework for scientists and engineers to improve upon. The hextille can be easily upgraded by removing or adding new modules as necessary. Our attempts to create the perfect environment for the inhabitants of the settlement have led us to the current cell design. The basic module is made out of six walls surrounding three floors in a hexagonal fashion. Every module is equipped with its own life support system, engines and solar panels, meaning that the cell is, by all means, a fully functioning, self-sustainable spacecraft.
Module Specifications Height (m) Edge length (m) Diagonal length (m) Floor surface (m2) Volume (m3) Area covered by photovoltaic cells (m2) Starting population Maximum population
12-16 40 80 4157 ~58200 3000 60 100
(Numbers displayed in the table above are only approximations computed using the formulas for a hexagon’s area and volume) The module’s engines are used both for relocating the settlement in case of an emergency, as well as for correcting the spacecraft’s trajectory along the orbit. The photovoltaic panels occupy three quarters of the floor’s outer surface area, providing energy to the entire cell. 16
