Development and Construction of Operational Modules for Planetary Habitat Research

摘要

The Inflatable Lunar/Mars Habitat (ILMH) located at the University of North Dakota is an operational planetary base concept equipped with a rover and two NDX-2AT space suits. The ILMH is used to conduct planetary analog missions for up to 3 crew members. Four additional modules will be added to the ILMH under a NASA EPSCoR grant. The additional modules will allow crew members to grow plants, conduct additional extravehicular activities (EVA), perform analysis on geologic samples, and maintain human exercise and performance. The additional modules are designed to mimic feasible extraterrestrial architecture, with the purpose of being tested and optimized on Earth. This paper will describe the structural engineering challenges of designing an extraterrestrial habitat for terrestrial use, from concept to design and fabrication. Initial designs were developed by calculating individual component stresses and reactions. Full scale models were structurally verified using Solidworks Simulation. The result is a habitat suited for extraterrestrial analog simulations in which a crew of three can perform isolated missions for a period of months. The data obtained from the missions will apply to plant production, exercise and human performance, EVA, and geology. The data can help determine the optimal design of a habitat for upcoming missions to settle extraterrestrial bodies.