Advancing outer space design and architecture through innovations and collaborations with diverse actors

You may have seen the propositions for the Mars and Moon villages, filling our imaginations with futuristic views. However, for now, space habitats primarily exist in orbit, where engineers and architects focus their efforts on sustaining life beyond Earth. Let’s delve into the key facets of space design and architecture in orbit, drawing insights from existing space stations and groundbreaking collaborations shaping the future of space habitation.

Main Challenges:

• Artificial Gravity: Addressing health risks from prolonged weightlessness is crucial. Some advocate for innovative solutions such as rotating space habitats or centrifuge modules, simulating artificial gravity to mitigate adverse effects on astronauts’ well-being during extended missions.
• Efficient Radiation Protection: Space presents radiation hazards, requiring robust shielding materials and technologies. We need advanced solutions to safeguard astronauts from radiation, solar flares, and other extraterrestrial threats on their health.
• Sustainable Food: Ensuring a steady and nutritious food supply is paramount for astronauts’ well-being. The habitat should support the development of sustainable food production systems like hydroponics and cellular agriculture, reducing reliance on Earth-based supplies.
• Growth Strategy: Strategic partnerships and innovative business models are essential for expanding and sustaining human presence in space. O.L.Y.M.P.E emphasizes collaboration and international cooperation to foster a thriving space economy and support space exploration endeavors.
• Commercial Values: Integrating commercial interests into space exploration drives innovation and market growth. O.L. Y.M.P.E advocates for the development of commercial space habitats, tourism ventures, and resource utilization initiatives, unlocking new economic opportunities.

Learning from Existing and Planned Space Stations:

Examining operational and planned space stations provides valuable insights into the design and architecture of long-term habitats:

• The International Space Station (ISS) stands as a testament to collaborative efforts among multiple space agencies (ESA, NASA, JAXA, CSA and Roscosmos) showcasing a modular design and advanced life support systems that serve as a blueprint for sustainable space habitation. Astronauts aboard the ISS enjoy private pods for personal space, while shared communal areas, such as the kitchen / living room area where social life revolves around a table on an occidental model, promoting interaction and camaraderie.
• Similarly, the Tiangong Space Station,operated by China’s CMSA, demonstrates significant advancements in modular construction and life support technology. The station embraces a more open concept of living, as evidenced by its interior design showcased at the China Science and Technology Museum. The incorporation of foldable tablets seen on pictures of the new station, likely for individual use, highlights a departure from previous space station layouts, suggesting a flexible approach to accommodating astronauts’ needs.

As societies and cultures envision diverse ways of living in space (and first on earth), collaborations in creativity become increasingly vital. These collaborations extend beyond engineering to encompass interdisciplinary perspectives, ensuring that future space habitats reflect the cultural and societal values of diverse human populations.

Shaping the Future of Space Design and Architecture trough collaboration with designer and craftsperson.

• Hilton and Voyager Space have joined forces to enhance the experience of space travelers through innovative design and hospitality solutions. Voyager’s forthcoming Starlab space station (developed with Airbus Nanoracks and Lockeed Martin), set to replace the International Space Station, aims to offer unprecedented levels of comfort and convenience to astronauts and space tourists. Hilton’s expertise in hospitality will be leveraged to create a transformative experience aboard Starlab, blending luxury and functionality to redefine the human experience in space. The collaboration encompasses the design and development of crew lodgings and hospitality suites aboard Starlab.
• Space Perspective’s Spaceship Neptune offers a unique and luxurious spaceflight experience, providing passengers with panoramic views of Earth from the edge of space. Unlike traditional space tourism companies that rely on rockets, Spaceship Neptune is lifted by a giant balloon, offering a serene and comfortable journey above the Earth’s atmosphere. With its spacious capsule featuring plush seating, a bar, and a restroom refered as a spa. Spaceship Neptune redefines the concept of space travel, promising passengers a once-in-a-lifetime confortable travel focused on the human experience.

These initiatives and collaborations exemplify the intersection of luxury hospitality and space exploration, paving the way for a new era of space design and architecture that prioritizes comfort, safety, and sustainability. As advancements in technology and infrastructure make space travel more accessible, these partnerships underscore the boundless opportunities for innovation and creativity in shaping the future of human habitation beyond Earth’s bounds.