Multipurpose Module for Space Explorations: Design of Hab/Lab Unit for Lunar/Mars Missions

The project featured in this paper is part of a larger research and design venture undertaken by the Sasakawa International Center for Space architecture (SICSA), Houston, in collaboration with SPACEHAB. The one year design project involved planning and design of various landers, rovers, and surface facilities required for a three year mission to Mars. This activity produced the design of a common module to serve as a logistic habitat or laboratory facility as evolutionary needs demand. The paper presents design parameters and architectural design options for this modular element. The purpose of the project is to: (1) Study the similarities and differences of lunar and Mars environments to propose a module that can serve as a habitat in both environments. (2) Study human function and performance issues in such extraterrestrial environments and estimate food, water and other basic requirements for the representative missions. (3) Provide design solutions that address the future evolutionary needs, weight and mass constraints presented by launch, landing and surface mobility/ deployment. This project was conducted in connection with SICSA's ongoing studies of facilities in general, and in support of SPACEHAB's Space Exploration Concept Evaluation and Refinement (CE&R) contract with NASA.