MODULAR SPACE ARCHITECTURE: DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR TRANS-PLANETARY MANNED EXPLORATION

摘要

This research has been conducted at the University of Houston's Sasakawa International Center for Space Architecture (SICSA). Manned space fight has always been a challenging task involving factors concerning crew safely and comfortably. Heavy lift launch vehicles are essential space components, which enabled us to step on the Moon and lift large and heavy habitats into LEO such as Skylab and currently orbiting ISS. In addition, dozen of heavy lift launches would be required to complete highly discussed Mars mission with current bi-propellant chemical engines. New propulsion technologies, modular spaceship & habitat design, radiation protection, light composites materials, and active propellant boil-off systems are just some of the technologies that may lead to safer and cost-effective manned exploration. This opens up a research dedicated to general mission architecture design consideration for manned space travel to and beyond Mars, and establishes fundamental design guidelines for future generations of Aerospace Engineers and Space Architects.