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6.1 Space Architecture
6.1_ S P A C E A R C H I T E C T U R E
Space Architecture - This field of study pertains to the design and construction of facilities and systems in Space. The concept of designing and building outer Space environments is widely used in various industries. These environments include, but are not limited to, vehicles, stations, habitats, and lunar, planetary basis, and infrastructures, as well as Earthbased control, experiment, launch, logistics, payload, simulation, and test facilities. (Space Architecture Technical Committee AIAA, 2020).
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When designing a Spacecraft, the entire built environment must be taken into perspective. In the same way that architecture is on Earth, it is an attempt to look beyond the components and systems and gain a thorough understanding of the factors that influence design success. The goal of Space architecture is to allow human beings to live and work in Space by utilizing different kinds of architecture. There are many examples of these types of design elements, and they include tiny housing, small living apartments, vehicle design, capsule hotels, and so on. In the area of Space architecture, a great deal of work has been directed towards developing concepts for orbital Space stations, lunar and Martian exploration ships and surface bases for the world’s Space Agencies, mainly NASA.
A practice of including architects in Space programmes originated in the Space-race, but its origins can be traced much farther back. Their involvement was necessary as a result of efforts to extend the durations of Space missions and address Astronauts’ needs, which go above and beyond the minimum needs of survival.
In order to build a theoretical framework for Space architecture, one starting point would be the search for extreme environments in terrestrial settings, where human beings have lived, and the creation of analogs between these environments and Space (University of Houston, 2009). These analogs are useful design references for Space systems. Terrestrial analogs not only provide design insights, t but also serve as testbeds so that technologies for Space applications can be tested further.
BUILDINGS AS WE KNOW CLUSTER OF BUILDINGS AERIAL OF BUILDINGS
A long-time interest in the Space industry and all that is related to Space led the author to come up with the idea for this proposed training facility. Since the proposed site is located in a barren area that is remote from any major sites, the author felt that it was important to concentrate more on the theoretical aspects of the project.
As part of the plan, the idea was to build and create a facility that would feel like it was designed to emulate an experience Astronauts might have in a future Mars colony.
Musk announced at the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara that he plans to send at least one million human beings to Mars by 2030, where he intends to establish a self-sustaining city. As a result of this statement from Musk, the author is incredibly enthusiastic about the proposed facility’s potential as a training facility for Astronauts facing anything they may encounter on Mars (Hersher & Domonoske, 2016). The conceptual approach to the placement and tectonic development of the programme was driven by the purpose of the facility, which is to simulate the conditions of a distant planet here on Earth.
The programme can be divided into two distinct functions namely the Mars mission base simulation buildings and the functions that support these missions on Earth. The architectural approach was to differentiate the different functions though tectonic treatment, as well as visual prominence. The Mars simulation buildings are conceptualised to have visual significance and prominence in the desolate landscape of the selected site, conceptually replicating the (visual) condition of establishing a home base in the expanse of the Mars landscape.
The Mars simulation buildings consist of a cluster of habitable ‘pods’ that connect two terrain simulation structures. The terrain enclosure was developed as a geodesic dome which will be used to replicate the atmospheric conditions and analog area where planned missions on Mars will be carried out.
EARTH
CONCEPT HUMANS ON EARTH ARCHITECTURE AS A LINK
This selected form was derived as a visual representation of the buildings that will ultimately be built on Mars. Similarly, the administrative and habitable ‘Pods’ are developed to mimic the equipment that will be used in Mars missions.
The supporting Earth programme functions are conceptualised to not only be from Earth but also form a physical part of it. These buildings are developed along a recessed access route where buildings are anchored into the landscape to obscure their visual presence. The chosen materiality of these buildings consists of rammed Earth, green roofs and timber elements.
The programme of the Earth cluster of buildings consists of Mission Control, Mission Administrative buildings, Mission Equipment building, medical treatment facility, Access control building, as well as a public observation tower. The complex of both Mars and Earth buildings is positioned on a visual and physical axis. This axis forms the main visual approach to the complex.
The Mars buildings and observation tower makes visual reference to the existing SALT telescopes on a secondary axis. The Earth cluster of buildings honours these visual references by providing framed corridors back to the SALT cluster of telescopes.
A TRAINING FACILITY FOR ASTRONAUTS FROM THE NATIONAL AND PRIVATE SECTOR SPACE AGENCIES LOCATED IN SUTHERLAND, SOUTH AFRICA EARTH
CONCEPT
(sketches by author,2021)
DIG DOWN FOR SHELTER HUMANS ON MARS ARCHITECTURE AS A LINK
BIO-DOMES AS NEW HABITATS COLONY STRUCTURE
EXPANDING OUTWARD
DEPICTION OF MARS SURFACE