Currently, the main habitat space in Earth orbit is the International Space Station. Its future is in doubt with the U.S. only allocating funds until 2024. Many of the nations and private companies involved in space exploration and exploitation support the continued presence of human beings in orbital habitats.
NASA’s NextSTEP program has just selected six private companies to receive NASA funds for the development of ground prototypes for human habitation in space. “All of these habitat ideas contain a pressurized volume plus an array of complex systems such as docking capability, environmental control and life support systems (ECLSS), logistics management, radiation mitigation and monitoring, fire safety technologies, and crew health capabilities.”
Jason Crusan, director of NASA’s Advanced Exploration Systems, explains that “NASA is on an ambitious expansion of human spaceflight, including the Journey to Mars, and we’re utilizing the innovation, skill and knowledge of both the government and private sectors. The next human exploration capabilities needed beyond the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule are deep space, long duration habitation and in-space propulsion. We are now adding focus and specifics on the deep space habitats where humans will live and work independently for months or years at a time, without cargo supply deliveries from Earth.”
Bigelow Aerospace LLC of North Las Vegas, Nevada developed the inflatable Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) habitat that is currently being tested at the International Space Station. They are going to use their technology to create a one thousand foot expandable habitat prototype called the Expandable Bigelow Advanced Station Enhancement.
Boeing of Houston, Texas will utilize the technology that they have developed in the construction and maintenance on the ISS to develop their prototype habitat. “This ground demonstrator will test and validate interface standards, systems functionality and critical exploration technologies.”
Lockheed Martin of Denver, Colorado will use refurbished logistic modules developed for delivery of supplies to the ISS to develop its habitat prototype. “Virtual prototyping to validate the habitat module’s form, fit and function” will be employed.
Orbital ATK of Dulles, Virginia developed the Cygnus spacecraft as the basis for a cislunar habitat. They will be building off of this prior work to create their prototype for NASA. “They will mature the Cygnus-derived habitat design for long-term operation in deep space and establish a proposed roadmap that leads to Mars exploration.”
Sierra Nevada Corporation Space System Divisions is working on adapting its Dream Chaser cargo module for the deployment of a habitat. “After launch from the Dream Chaser spacecraft, the SNC NextSTEP-2 module will be combined with a large inflatable fabric environment module, ECLSS system, and propulsion system. The design and prototype will confirm the proof-of-concept and ensure critical subsystems seamlessly integrate together.”
NanoRacks of Webster, Texas is working with Space Systems Loral and the United Launch Alliance on their habitat prototype. They are going to study the possibility of using a propellant tank stage from an existing launch vehicle to create a habitat. “The feasibility study will provide insight into this innovative and low-cost approach that can be used for any rocket system, including SLS.”
NASA says that “The activities of these NextSTEP awards will inform the acquisition and deployment approach for the next phase of flight systems for deep space including important aspects such as standards and interfaces, module configurations, and options for deployment utilizing SLS and Orion and commercial vehicles.”
