ArchiSpace: Space architecture design and prototyping in planetary analogue environments
Year: 2024-28
Project leader TUD: Henriette Bier
Project team TUD: Henriette Bier, Arwin Hidding, Raj Rajan, and Prem Sundaramoorthy
Collaborators / Partners: IRSPS SRL, Portucalense University (UPT), The University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Vertico BV, Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences (CSFK or RCAES), space-craft Architektur, Cadi Ayyad University (UCAM), and D'Annunzio University of Chieti–Pescara (Ud'A)
Funding: MSCA (EU funding programme for doctoral education and postdoctoral training of researchers)
In this decade the aim is to permanently inhabit the Moon. It is therefore crucial to develop reliable and safe settlements that adequately protect astronauts physical and mental well-being from all possible the hostile environment that the extraterrestrial space presents. ArchiSpace aims to design and build sub-systems prototypes (e.g., walls, roofs, living spaces, etc.) of human infrastructures to be built on planetary surfaces, which will be tested in analogue environments. This project aims to use environmental and geological setting analogues as a base to define architectural constraints, sketch design and prototypes to be used in future space human settlements. ArchiSpace is pioneering interdisciplinary and intersectoral research in Europe by bridging geology/space sciences and architecture/space architecture. Geology/space science is crucial because the subsurface plays a fundamental role in the selection of the landing sites and the location of 'human-focused' habitats. Architecture/space architecture has a key role in designing and prototyping comfortable, safe and functional habitats. Thus, ArchiSpace promotes an innovative international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary research and innovation collaboration that can contribute to Europe's competitiveness and growth.
Moon Station competition entry of MSc 2 students 2024 (View project)