The Endurance Habitat
Duration
2020.03 - 2020.05
Team
Megan Chao, Max Hu,
Sichen Huo, Neha Sajja,
Juliana Soltys, Owen Swischuk, Shikhar Tyagi
Sichen Huo, Neha Sajja,
Juliana Soltys, Owen Swischuk, Shikhar Tyagi
Tools
Rhino, Keyshot
My Role
UX Design, Industrial Design
about the project
What is the Endurance Habitat?
The Endurance Habitat is designed for the NASA Artemis Mission which will send American astronauts back to the moon in 2024. The proposed habitat will be located near the Shackleton Crater at the Lunar South Pole as a permanent research outpost on the lunar surface.
My Contributions
As one of the industrial designers, I designed the general habitat layout & structure. I then focused on designing and 3D modelling the mid deck, which houses most scientific and medical instruments. I also designed and modelled the Airlock and the Glovebox on the bottom deck.
As a design researcher, I researched layouts, ECLSS (Environmental Control & Life Support Systems), airlocks, logistics, and power sources on existing space habitats, such as the International Space Station.
As a design researcher, I researched layouts, ECLSS (Environmental Control & Life Support Systems), airlocks, logistics, and power sources on existing space habitats, such as the International Space Station.
Defining Our Goals
The project brief
NASA and the Rhode Island Space Grant had tasked and funded this project. Our design team was working with NASA's Center for Design & Space Architecture, which defined the goals and requirements of our project.
Our habitat should be no larger than 4.4 m in diameter and 7 m in length to fit into Space X's Falcon Heavy, the launch vehicle that will carry part of NASA's Gateway Station to lunar orbit and likely deliver a habitat to the lunar surface.
The goal of our habitat is to support a 30-day mission for four astronauts on the lunar surface. The habitat should at least feature sleeping quarters, a galley, exercise equipment, life support systems, and EVA (Extra-Vehicular Activity) capabilities. It also must have the ability to conduct regolith (lunar soil) and biological science research.
The goal of our habitat is to support a 30-day mission for four astronauts on the lunar surface. The habitat should at least feature sleeping quarters, a galley, exercise equipment, life support systems, and EVA (Extra-Vehicular Activity) capabilities. It also must have the ability to conduct regolith (lunar soil) and biological science research.
Research
Learning from past missions
Even though we didn't have access to any classified information and couldn't talk to any real astronauts about their experience in space, we still conducted extensive research to make the best possible design decisions. We looked into plans for the Artemis Program, mission reports from the Apollo Program, and other proposals for lunar exploration. We took the difficulties astronauts have faced in past missions into consideration to brainstorm possible solutions.
Cutaway of the ESA Columbus Module on the ISS
We used the ISS (International Space Station) as our design reference. We researched the experiments conducted, the science instruments needed, life support systems, EVA (Extra-Vehicular Activity) requirements, hygiene management, waste management, etc. We also looked at typical daily schedules for astronauts, daily supplies consumption, and exercise requirements.
Layout & Ideation
Horizontal vs. Vertical layout
Based on our extensive research, we decided to choose a vertical layout with three decks and named our proposed habitat the Endurance.
Initial Horizontal Design
Initial Vertical Design
A vertical habitat layout is superior to a horizontal habitat layout in many ways:
#1
Separation of Space and Activities
A vertical layout with multiple decks makes it easy to delineate space and separate different activities. Astronauts can work on their individual tasks or rest without disturbance from others.
#2
Better Regolith Management
Regolith management has always been a major concern for lunar and Mars missions. Fine dust harms research instruments, station hygiene, and the quality of live on the lunar surface. A vertical design can minimize the presence of lunar regolith on the top-deck and mid-deck.
#3
More Usable Floor Area
By separating the habitat into three decks, we can create more usable floor space. A vertical design can also take advantage of the top dome for added headroom and the bottom dome for water and liquid oxygen storage.
Iterations
After deciding on a vertical design with three decks, we started to work on a more detailed floor plan and envision how astronauts would live in this habitat.
Design Decision 1
Location of Sleeping Quarters & Galley
Sleeping quarters and the galley should be some of the cleanest environments in the habitat. So we have decided to put them on the top deck where the negative effects from lunar regolith are minimal.
Design Decision 2
Central Corridor vs. "Offset" Corridor
Mid Deck with Central Corridor
Mid Deck with an “Offset” Corridor
In earlier versions of our design, we put the vertical corridor that connects the three decks in the center of the habitat to utilize all four sides of the habitat. However, we decided to "offset" the vertical corridor to the side upon further research. By offsetting the corridor, astronauts can enjoy more floor space without worrying about "falling" through the floor space. More floor space also means more open space that can bring many psychological benefits.
Design Decision 3
“Vertical” ECLSS (Environmental Control & Life Support Systems)
Due to the large volume of the ECLSS system, we decided to design an ECLSS that runs through all three decks and uses the bottom dome as water and liquid oxygen storage. In this way, we can take full advantage of otherwise underutilized volumes within the habitat.
Design Decision 4
In Habitat Suitport vs. External Airlock
In some of the earlier designs, we had included space for suitports. Suitports are tiny airlocks that attach xEMU (next-generation Exploration Extra-Vehicular Mobility Unit) suits to the exterior of the habitat to streamline EVA (Extra-Vehicular Activity) preparations.
However, due to the limited technology available and the fragility of the current xEMU suits, we have decided to use an external airlock for xEMU suit storage. In this way, we can have better regolith management and save a significant amount of space within the habitat.
However, due to the limited technology available and the fragility of the current xEMU suits, we have decided to use an external airlock for xEMU suit storage. In this way, we can have better regolith management and save a significant amount of space within the habitat.
Final Design
Overview
Top Deck
height: 2.25 m
Living,
Communications,
& Dining
Communications,
& Dining
Mid Deck
height: 2.05 m
Non-Regolith Science,
Med Bay, &
Meeting
Med Bay, &
Meeting
Bottom Deck
height: 2.10 m
Regolith Science,
Exercise,
Lavatory & Hygiene
Exercise,
Lavatory & Hygiene
Top Deck
The top deck is where the sleeping quarters, the galley, the private communication booth, and the personal hygiene station are located.
We designed the sleeping quarters as private spaces that crew members can seal off. We consulted NASA’s soft goods lab and envisioned a private video calling booth with total sound isolation where crew members can call their families and therapists. Crew members also have quick access to simple hygiene supplies like face wipes at the personal hygiene station.
Mid Deck
The mid deck is where the video conferencing space, medical equipment and supplies, emergency exit, biological science, and other non-regolith science are located.
The mid deck hosts the most science equipment. My group-mate Neha and I designed an entirely new payload rack system. We adopted a modular design so each experiment package can be individually slotted into the racks or taken out. This new system standardizes science experiment packages and opens up more opportunities for private and educational engagements.
The collapsible working and meeting table can also function as an emergency operating table. The airlock on the mid deck is used as an emergency exit.
Bottom Deck
The bottom deck is where regolith science, the rover piloting station, waste collection, the lavatory, the body hygiene station, and exercise equipment are located.
The bottom deck is also connected to an external airlock where crew members leave their xEMU (next-generation Exploration Extra-Vehicular Mobility Unit) suits after an EVA (Extra-Vehicular Activity). Soil samples collected during an EVA can be brought directly into regolith science equipment like the glovebox to prevent contamination and for better regolith management. The exercise equipment is designed for strength training workouts as daily EVAs should be enough for cardio exercises.
next steps
Design improvements &
VR experience
VR experience
We received various feedback from NASA during our final critique and considered them for possible next steps. We wish to experiment with "vertically staggered floor designs" that allow part of one deck to extrude into another one. For example, the floor height for the bottom deck is 2.1 meters, which might not be enough if NASA decides to add a treadmill to the workout equipment. But allowing part of the workout area to extrude into the mid deck can potentially solve this issue.
Besides design improvements, we wish to present the Endurance habitat in a VR format that allows us to experience the habitat and identify areas where we can improve.
Besides design improvements, we wish to present the Endurance habitat in a VR format that allows us to experience the habitat and identify areas where we can improve.
Takeaways
Working with constraints &
Embracing ambiguity
Embracing ambiguity
This project is unique because we had to work with specific requirements and constraints but with very little information. Much information we wanted to access was highly classified and proprietary, so we learned to make educated guesses based on limited knowledge. Working on this project has taught me to embrace ambiguity, get comfortable with the unknown, and take calculated risks.
Due to the global pandemic, we had to leave campus and finish this project remotely. In the two months of remote working, I also gained valuable experience in efficiently dividing workload and coordinating with teammates across the world (literally! our team of 7 was working across 4 different time zones). And in the age of working from home, the communication and management skills I gained from this project are invaluable.
Due to the global pandemic, we had to leave campus and finish this project remotely. In the two months of remote working, I also gained valuable experience in efficiently dividing workload and coordinating with teammates across the world (literally! our team of 7 was working across 4 different time zones). And in the age of working from home, the communication and management skills I gained from this project are invaluable.
CAD model for xEMU suit provided by www.cgtrader.com/albin
Thank you for reading!
