Space Transportation Node: The Atrium Facility
During the next thirty years the infrastructure of space transportation is expected to expand to a system of advanced vehicles. A transportation node is an important link, as a vehicle...
MALEO: Modular Assembly in Low Earth Orbit: An Alternate Strategy for Lunar Base Deployment
Modular Assembly in Low Earth Orbit (MALEO) is a new strategy for building an initial operational capability lunar habitation base. In this strategy, the lunar base components are brought...
Automated Manufacturing in Platform-Based Orbital Systems (APROPOS)
As an example of an orbital manufacturing scenario, an automated orbital manufacturing system is designed for the production of turbine blades for high pressure turbines. The target here...
Site Constraints for a Lunar Base
A rigorous site plan is a prerequisite for quantitative analyses of lunar base operations. The development of such a site plan, done for a detailed lunar base study (RLSO, 89), is described...
A Robotics Testbed for In-Space Assembly Tasks
The operations testbed of the Center for Space Construction at the University of Colorado is described. This testbed serves as a centralized testing environment for interdisciplinary research...
Explosive Metal Working for Space
As the United States looks towards larger and larger lift vehicles for the transportation of the space station and other large payloads, the application of explosive metalworking becomes...
Motion Control of Space Structures
A new area of civil engineering is emerging as we begin to establish a permanent presence in space. The new area of civil engineering is the motion control of space structures. This paper...
Space Construction: A CSI Perspective
This paper outlines the control structure interaction (CSI) problem for space construction engineers. An overview of the Control Astrophysics and Structures Experiment in Space (CASES)...
An Introduction to Pressurized Volumes in Space
Space habitation designers come from diverse backgrounds. As it is human nature to emphasize that which is familiar, habitat design is strongly influenced by the designer's...
Space-Based Control of the Climate
The expected global greenhouse warming of 2 ?C may be reversed by a space-based screen that intercepts 3% of the incident solar radiation. Space-based devices may also mitigate the ozone/UV...
Antarctic Testbed for Extraterrestrial Operation and Technology
A remote and harsh environment, Antarctica has areas which are more similar to the Moon and Mars than anywhere else on Earth. The physical similarities, coupled with strong parallels between...
A Center for Extraterrestrial Engineering and Construction (CETEC)
The Center for Extraterrestrial Engineering and Construction (CETEC) has been envisioned as an organization, a center of knowledge and information, and a set of experimental test facilities....
Biosphere II: Closed Ecological Systems Engineering
This paper provides a general description of the Biosphere II project - a 3.15 acre materially closed ecological system containing tropical rainforest, savannah, marsh, marine, desert,...
National Aero-Space Plane Pioneering New Frontiers
Paper reviews the current status, technology and potential future space launch applications of the joint DOD/NASA National Aero-Space Plane (NASP) program. Key program goals include first...
Lunar Base Power Requirements, Options & Growth
A preliminary study of lunar base scenarios and associated power requirements has recently been completed. Minimum power levels of 50-100 kW are required for 'science-only'...
A Prototype Model for Human/Automation Trade-offs
Future space construction missions will involve both human and machine constructors. Selection of the optimum constructor mix requires a model of constructor capabilities and requirements....
Managing Cultural Diversity in Orbital Habitats
This paper presents the background, outline, and initial findings of an international project on 'Managing Cultural Diversity in Orbital Habitats'. The purpose...
Artificial Gravity Research Facility Options
On a long duration manned mission to Mars, the physiological changes caused by microgravity may be counteracted by artificial gravity. This paper evaluates several different classes of...
Variable Gravity Research Facility: A Concept
One of the most exciting missions NASA is currently studying is a human mission to Mars. Mission scenarios range from 20 day surface expeditions to permanent human bases on the martian...
Artificial Gravity: Human Factors Design Requirements
A major challenge of manned spaceflight is to assure the health, well-being and performance of the space inhabitants. As man ventures beyond Earth's orbit to settle the Moon,...
Return to search