NASA Technical Reports Server (NASA) · 2012 · 10 citations · 0 references
EngineeringAerospace EngineeringSystems EngineeringDesign OptimizationSpace PlanningSpacecraft DesignMission RequirementsSpace ExplorationSpacecraft ConfigurationSystems Engineering For SpacecraftExplorationExploration MissionsMission ArchitectureRobust DesignSpace Mission DesignSpacecraft Architecture DesignSpacecraft Configuration DesignSpacecraft Structural Sizing
A Deep Space Habitat is a crew habitation module for long‑duration missions, yet no habitat beyond low‑Earth orbit has been built, and current sizing methods assume a single new module rather than repurposing existing ISS hardware. The study seeks to develop weightless habitat configurations for deep‑space missions using systems derived from the International Space Station. The authors modeled two 4‑crew missions—60‑day and 500‑day—using ISS‑derived Node, Lab, and MPLM elements, selecting durations to span the lower and upper bounds of exploration scenarios and employing existing ISS hardware or new hardware built to ISS specifications. The design is robust and reusable at the ISS, with mass estimates higher than conventional models but offering cost, schedule, and risk benefits through the use of flight‑qualified ISS hardware.
A Deep Space Habitat (DSH) is the crew habitation module designed for long duration missions. Although humans have lived in space for many years, there has never been a habitat beyond low-Earth-orbit. As part of the Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Habitation Project, a study was conducted to develop weightless habitat configurations using systems based on International Space Station (ISS) designs. Two mission sizes are described for a 4-crew 60-day mission, and a 4-crew 500-day mission using standard Node, Lab, and Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) sized elements, and ISS derived habitation systems. These durations were selected to explore the lower and upper bound for the exploration missions under consideration including a range of excursions within the Earth-Moon vicinity, near earth asteroids, and Mars orbit. Current methods for sizing the mass and volume for habitats are based on mathematical models that assume the construction of a new single volume habitat. In contrast to that approach, this study explored the use of ISS designs based on existing hardware where available and construction of new hardware based on ISS designs where appropriate. Findings included a very robust design that could be reused if the DSH were assembled and based at the ISS and a transportation system were provided for its return after each mission. Mass estimates were found to be higher than mathematical models due primarily to the use of multiple ISS modules instead of one new large module, but the maturity of the designs using flight qualified systems have potential for improved cost, schedule, and risk benefits.