March 18, 2007

Priwab Living Space Designs

A major issue influencing Mars habitat designs is the fine balance between mission efficiency and basic human needs (i.e. privacy and comfort). These factors often collide, seriously impairing operational goals or basic personnel well-being. There are solutions to these issues, but there must be an emphasis on innovative, practical and economic designs. One such solution may lie in the use of compact living quarters that can be expanded when required but stored away when not needed. Priwab is one such concept.

 
Priwab living space in compact form (left) and inflated (right) - Click on Images to Enlarge
More images: [1],[2]

Priwab works on the principal of singular hexagonal packages that can be inflated to act as optimized living spaces. With volume at a premium on space missions, they can be arranged in groups and inflated where and when needed. There is also an emphasis on mental stimulus where subtle color will illuminate the inside of the Priwab to give an idea of "up" and "down" (for weightlessness situations on space stations for example) and the application of a multimedia inner screen to be used for private communications, work and entertainment. Applications for any Mars mission are endless. Designs of this type would be particularly useful for the first settlers who will need quick access to comfortable accommodation whilst permanent dwellings are being constructed. Established Mars explorers would also need such plans for temporary quarters during long hauls across the Martian landscape.

View the Priwab presentation (1MB PDF) for further details...

Priwab design by Andreas Hofmann, Industrial Design, Switzerland ©2007 - used with permission

March 9, 2007

"Back To The Burrow" Artwork

New artwork by the French artist, Manchu, with the Association Planete Mars.

For more information on this incredible piece of art and it's intentions, please click on the image.

Image is copyright by Association Planete Mars / Manchu, used with permission.

March 2, 2007

Side-Lit Greenhouse

A possible passively heated & cooled Greenhouse arrangement is shown. It is designed to use minimal electrical energy for heating and cooling.

Side-Lit Greenhouse design - Click on Image to Enlarge

Sunlight is concentrated by steerable mirrors at the left side, and focused through side windows. An overhead scaffold holds radiation shielding material (regolith, ice, or any other material). Air ducts and passageways allow warm air convection to other habitat modules to the right, such as workshops, a kitchen, etc. Not shown are curtains which can be closed at night to retain heat when needed, or opened to allow wind cooling, with chimneys for additional convective cooling if needed.

Design by Bruce Mackenzie. Special thanks to Jan Olsen, a Mars Foundation intern from Norway.

Do you have an interesting concept, or enjoy designing structures such as this? If you would like to get involved, please contact us.