Lunar and space architecture

Moon Landing, Lunar Module Eagle.

[edit] Introduction

Space architecture refers to the practice of designing and building environments for the inhabitants of places beyond Earth, often including facilities for research and development. Much of the work to date has been for orbital space stations, lunar and martian exploration ships and surface bases for the world's space agencies.

There have also been a number of projects that simulate living conditions on other planets, with self-sustaining systems in enclosed biospheres which trainees and researchers can occupy for long periods to test our ability to exist in isolation. For more information see: Biosphere.

The UN General Assembly's resolution A/RES/65/271 in 7 April 2011, declared 12 April as the International Day of Human Space Flight: “to celebrate each year at the international level the beginning of the space era for mankind, reaffirming the important contribution of space science and technology in achieving sustainable development goals and increasing the well-being of States and peoples, as well as ensuring the realisation of their aspiration to maintain outer space for peaceful purposes.”

[edit] International committee

The Space Architecture Technical Committee (SATC) is one of the first formal organisations of space architects and industrial designers. It is an international committee of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and organises sessions at international space conferences, advises on required skills, promotes and assists in research, and provides liaison between aerospace engineering, architecture and industrial design disciplines.

The SATC Charter states: "This charter defines Space Architecture broadly to encompass architectural design of living and working environments in space-related facilities, habitats, and vehicles. These environments include, but are not limited to: space vehicles, stations, habitats and lunar and planetary bases; and earth-based control, experiment, launch, logistics, payload, simulation and test facilities. Earth analogs to space applications may include Antarctic, airborne, desert, high altitude, underground, undersea environments and closed ecological systems. Designing these forms of architecture presents a particular challenge: to ensure and support safety, habitability, human reliability, and crew productivity in the context of extreme and unforgiving environments."

For more information see: http://spacearchitect.org/

[edit] International education

In terms of education, the Sasakawa International Centre for Space Architecture (SICSA) is an academic organisation within the University of Houston that offers a Master of Science in Space Architecture, working on design contracts with corporations and space agencies.

In Europe, The Vienna University of Technology and the International Space University (ISU) are involved in space architecture research: "ISU is the sole university worldwide devoted entirely to space education since 1987. Today, ISU is made up of a unique network around the world with a Central Campus in Strasbourg, with hubs in the USA and the Asia-Pacific region, and partnerships with leading space organisations worldwide. ISU is a 35-year success story with 5200 alumni shaping the international space ecosystem in 110 countries including astronauts and entrepreneurs along with current and former space industry and government leaders."

[edit] International conferences

There are a number of International conferences on the subject of space exploration, in particular two that include presentations covering themes of space architecture are:

• The International Conference on Environmental Systems meets annually to present sessions on human space flight and space human factors.
• International Conference on Space Architecture and Architectural Design also meets annually.

[edit] Moonotopia

In January 2017, the online architectural platform Eleven announced the winners of an ideas and design competition - Moontopia. Moontopia was an international challenge exploring design-led solutions for space architecture. Students, architects, designers, artists, academics and scientists from around the world were asked to propose visions for a self-sufficient lunar colony for living, working, researching and space tourism.

For more information see: Moonotopia.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Biome.
• Biosphere.
• Futurist architecture.
• Futuro House.
• High-tech architecture.
• Moontopia Lunar architecture.

[edit] External Links

• http://spacearchitect.org/resources/#publications
• https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-spaceflight-day
• http://spacearchitect.org/members/space-architecture-technical-committee/
• https://www.aiaa.org/membership/join-or-renew-your-aiaa-membership
• https://www.isunet.edu
• http://sicsa.egr.uh.edu/conferences
• https://www.ices.space