INTRODUCTION
1.1_ O U T L I N E B R I E F
This dissertation presents the design of a training facility for Astronauts from the national and private Sector Space Agencies located in Sutherland, South Africa. It explores the possibility of how the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) can form part of the bigger discourse when it comes to Space Travel and also assisting in the training of Astronauts for manned missions beyond Earth’s orbit.
A TRAINING FACILITY FOR ASTRONAUTS FROM THE NATIONAL AND PRIVATE SECTOR SPACE AGENCIES LOCATED IN SUTHERLAND, SOUTH AFRICA
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It is also noted that this dissertation will investigate the possibility of how SANSA could assist by hosting workshops in the development and building of equipment and technologies that could be used on these missions. In turn, it is the aspiration of this dissertation that this endeavour will start to bring new investment opportunities to SANSA along with the benefits of Space Travel and the technological advances that it will accompany it. This could potentially lead to multiple opportunities for countries with new and small Space Agencies to assist and compete along with already established Space Agencies. Furthermore, this facility aims to integrate with The National Research Foundation (NRF) as well as with the future plans of the South African Astronomical Observatory. The proposed facility will cater as a training facility for future Astronauts whereas the workshops will serve as an extension to already existing workshops at the observatory. This dissertation explores the following design considerations and narratives: • The creation and development of a facility that can be the starting point for SANSA to form part of human-crewed missions. • Exploring landform buildings as a way to limit light pollution, so as not to interfere with the observation of Space on the proposed site. • How the building could potentially mimic the experience that Astronauts will have on a daily basis • Introducing the public realm into Space and Space training. • Architecture as a physical manifestation of the link between humanity and an experience in Space.
