INTRODUCTION

摘要

Architecture in Space is entering a new era. It is over 40 years now since the late Neil Armstrong became the first human being to set foot on the Moon. For many people space exploration has not advanced much since that historic moment, but in reality there have been numerous developments. Space exploration has taken on a collaborative international dimension through the International Space Station (launched in 1998) and other ventures. Likewise, the practice of one-off flights has given way to the introduction of reusable hardware such as NASA's Space Shuttle (operational 1981-2011). More recently, in 2011 the US sent the Curiosity rover, its most sophisticated robotic vehicle, to investigate the climate and geology of Mars. And other countries have joined the space industry, with China sending its first astronaut, Yang Liwei, into Space in 2003 and then landing its own lunar rover, Yutu (or Jade Rabbit), on the Moon in December 2013. Significant research has also been undertaken into harnessing energy from Space, and the space tourism industry is gearing itself up to send the first space tourists into low earth orbit.