What would be your ideal community in space?
Be Inspired
More people are flying into space, and governments and industries are planning to live and work on the Moon, Mars and further into deep space. A community in space, whether in a spacecraft or on a planetary surface, requires a sustainable ecosystem for humans to survive. What we learn to allow us to survive in space will help us better understand how to live more sustainably on "spaceship Earth” as well. Building healthy and renewable communities of world and on Earth requires people from all backgrounds and nations working together to creatively solve expected and unexpected challenges.
Learn about the challenges of building a space community and use that knowledge to inspire your artwork about: What would be your ideal community in space? What will those communities need and look like? What might we learn from sustainable planning in these space communities that benefits life on Earth?
You can start with the information below to help you identify additional topics to explore more deeply. The links we have included are to get you started.
More people are flying into space, and governments and industries are planning to live and work on the Moon, Mars and further into deep space. A community in space, whether in a spacecraft or on a planetary surface, requires a sustainable ecosystem for humans to survive. What we learn to allow us to survive in space will help us better understand how to live more sustainably on "spaceship Earth” as well. Building healthy and renewable communities of world and on Earth requires people from all backgrounds and nations working together to creatively solve expected and unexpected challenges.
Learn about the challenges of building a space community and use that knowledge to inspire your artwork about: What would be your ideal community in space? What will those communities need and look like? What might we learn from sustainable planning in these space communities that benefits life on Earth?
You can start with the information below to help you identify additional topics to explore more deeply. The links we have included are to get you started.
 Pat Rawlings
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The Need to Explore: Together
In 1969, a US citizen was the first person to set foot on the Moon. Since that time, the US, Russia, China and India have sent orbiters, rovers and landers to the Moon and Mars. Humans are venturing further into space to live and work and conduct science. Because of the magnitude of the challenges, many countries are establishing ways to do so together peacefully. The Artemis Accords are one example of this way of approaching space exploration and travel. Working across countries and sectors, we can ultimately travel further to places only seen by space telescopes. |
Adrianna Allen
Harsh and Desolate: the Reality of Space
Antarctica, active volcanoes and the deep sea are a few places on Earth that begin to emulate the inhospitable nature of space and planets beyond Earth, and some life does exist in these extreme environments. Yet, Earth is the perfect mix of temperature and water to create and sustain life. Some scientists believe that the Earth is the only planet or moon that can sustain life. Others talk about the “Goldilocks Zone,” the range of distance between a star and a planet where water will neither continuously boil or freeze, where life may be possible.
To survive the majority of the extreme conditions of space, humans need a ship or planetary habitat. Several common space factors make life inhospitable. For example, the temperature on most planets does not allow for human survival; it is either too hot, like Jupiter, or too cold like Mars. The atmosphere is not breathable. Sources of energy to run habitats or ships or ground transportation either have to be brought from Earth or made from sources found in space.
Antarctica, active volcanoes and the deep sea are a few places on Earth that begin to emulate the inhospitable nature of space and planets beyond Earth, and some life does exist in these extreme environments. Yet, Earth is the perfect mix of temperature and water to create and sustain life. Some scientists believe that the Earth is the only planet or moon that can sustain life. Others talk about the “Goldilocks Zone,” the range of distance between a star and a planet where water will neither continuously boil or freeze, where life may be possible.
To survive the majority of the extreme conditions of space, humans need a ship or planetary habitat. Several common space factors make life inhospitable. For example, the temperature on most planets does not allow for human survival; it is either too hot, like Jupiter, or too cold like Mars. The atmosphere is not breathable. Sources of energy to run habitats or ships or ground transportation either have to be brought from Earth or made from sources found in space.
Courage: Meeting the Challenge of Space Life
The future of humans living in space or on another planet is exciting . . . and hazardous. Space hazards result in risks to humans depending on where they are going, how long the trip will be, and what the human plans to do. How will these challenges be met when we travel for long time periods and land on another planet? Primary space hazards include:
Radiation: Space radiation is different from that found on Earth. The biggest hazard is the constant bath of Galactic Cosmic Radiation (GCR) high energy particles, rather than solar flares that are predictable and possible to shield against. The biggest health concerns include possible heart or brain damage and cancer.
Altered Gravity: Weightlessness as one flies in between planets causes a headward shift of fluid in the body, changing distribution in the heart and potentially the brain and eyes. It also unloads the lower body, leading to diminishing bone and muscle strength, unless an astronaut carefully manages their exercise and nutrition. Long time periods in altered gravity can also affect fine motor skills and posture and the ability to walk, especially when first landing on a planet with higher gravity.
Hostile or Closed Environments: The environment of a spacecraft or planetary habitat means tight and sealed living quarters with controlled air, water and waste systems. Habitats need to be designed for temperature, lighting, and noise levels for optimum comfort and safety of astronauts as well. The internal microbial and dust environment also need to be carefully monitored, as the closed ecosystem and space-induced alterations in the human immune system may increase the likelihood of allergy and illness.
Isolation and Confinement: Being isolated and confined is not always common for humans on Earth. Space crafts, stations or on world habitats are naturally isolated and confined: an astronaut can not always easily communicate with others that aren’t part of their space crew or venture beyond their manufactured environment. This isolation and confinement, coupled with sleep loss and busy work schedules, mean that the crew must care for their individual mental health through activities that they enjoy and find restorative. For example, gardening can be done in these confined spaces and has been shown to alleviate stress and improve mood. Maintaining healthy team dynamics are also key to well-being and mission performance..
Distance from Earth: As humans travel further away from Earth, communications, supplies and assistance from Earth become increasingly difficult if not impossible. Communications delays and the inability to bring provisions and medical help are real. Astronauts will rely on the knowledge and ingenuity of themselves and each other.
The future of humans living in space or on another planet is exciting . . . and hazardous. Space hazards result in risks to humans depending on where they are going, how long the trip will be, and what the human plans to do. How will these challenges be met when we travel for long time periods and land on another planet? Primary space hazards include:
Radiation: Space radiation is different from that found on Earth. The biggest hazard is the constant bath of Galactic Cosmic Radiation (GCR) high energy particles, rather than solar flares that are predictable and possible to shield against. The biggest health concerns include possible heart or brain damage and cancer.
Altered Gravity: Weightlessness as one flies in between planets causes a headward shift of fluid in the body, changing distribution in the heart and potentially the brain and eyes. It also unloads the lower body, leading to diminishing bone and muscle strength, unless an astronaut carefully manages their exercise and nutrition. Long time periods in altered gravity can also affect fine motor skills and posture and the ability to walk, especially when first landing on a planet with higher gravity.
Hostile or Closed Environments: The environment of a spacecraft or planetary habitat means tight and sealed living quarters with controlled air, water and waste systems. Habitats need to be designed for temperature, lighting, and noise levels for optimum comfort and safety of astronauts as well. The internal microbial and dust environment also need to be carefully monitored, as the closed ecosystem and space-induced alterations in the human immune system may increase the likelihood of allergy and illness.
Isolation and Confinement: Being isolated and confined is not always common for humans on Earth. Space crafts, stations or on world habitats are naturally isolated and confined: an astronaut can not always easily communicate with others that aren’t part of their space crew or venture beyond their manufactured environment. This isolation and confinement, coupled with sleep loss and busy work schedules, mean that the crew must care for their individual mental health through activities that they enjoy and find restorative. For example, gardening can be done in these confined spaces and has been shown to alleviate stress and improve mood. Maintaining healthy team dynamics are also key to well-being and mission performance..
Distance from Earth: As humans travel further away from Earth, communications, supplies and assistance from Earth become increasingly difficult if not impossible. Communications delays and the inability to bring provisions and medical help are real. Astronauts will rely on the knowledge and ingenuity of themselves and each other.
Pat Rawlings
Build a Galactic Community: Survive and Thrive
Humans want to thrive and build a community with elements from the home planet that resonate and support our enjoyment of life as well as the ability to survive. In considering the architecture of our home, our built environment, we know that humans cannot survive long term without artificial life support in a sustainable ecosystem. Those elements, along with what makes a habitation a home, need to be present.
For example we should take into account the look, feel, smell, and sounds creating environments that may be soothing/calming, joyful, and inspiring along with considering how radiation, wind, marsquakes and asteroid impacts affect materials used, shape of the habitat and exterior and electronic degradation.
As we travel to a galaxy, orbit a stellar body or live on the surface of a moon or planet, we need to develop our own “ecosystem” with breathable air, water, and food, etc. to stay healthy and able to live and work. We must design and build habitats, transportation and infrastructures needed for humans to thrive and survive. Incorporating art, music, literature, sports, etc provides an environment wherein our built community, in a ship or on surface, can thrive. Our community needs to consider many aspects of the life of an earthling.
Build the Basics
Humans want to thrive and build a community with elements from the home planet that resonate and support our enjoyment of life as well as the ability to survive. In considering the architecture of our home, our built environment, we know that humans cannot survive long term without artificial life support in a sustainable ecosystem. Those elements, along with what makes a habitation a home, need to be present.
For example we should take into account the look, feel, smell, and sounds creating environments that may be soothing/calming, joyful, and inspiring along with considering how radiation, wind, marsquakes and asteroid impacts affect materials used, shape of the habitat and exterior and electronic degradation.
As we travel to a galaxy, orbit a stellar body or live on the surface of a moon or planet, we need to develop our own “ecosystem” with breathable air, water, and food, etc. to stay healthy and able to live and work. We must design and build habitats, transportation and infrastructures needed for humans to thrive and survive. Incorporating art, music, literature, sports, etc provides an environment wherein our built community, in a ship or on surface, can thrive. Our community needs to consider many aspects of the life of an earthling.
Build the Basics
- PROJECTS | SpaceArchitect.org
- Space Architects Will Help Us Live and Work Among the Stars
- 3D Printing of Habitats on Mars: Effects of Low Temperature and Pressure
- Space farming: Horticulture systems on spacecraft and outlook to planetary space exploration
- Duravit develops Martian toilet to be "simple and comfortable as possible"
- Starry Nights - The Importance of Art in Space Exploration
- Jeff Bezos foresees a trillion people living in millions of space colonies.
- Why Space Art? = Why Space?
NASA
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Benefits from Space: Caring for Spaceship Earth
For most of humankind’s history, people acted as if Earth resources were unlimited. In modern times we have clear evidence that Earth’s resources are finite and that humans can have a large impact on the environment. As we learn about living in space or on another planet and how to build a sustainable space living environment, we can apply that practical information to how we use or reuse our limited resources on Earth. For example, we are already using water purification systems and solar power. Space satellites provide valuable Earth observations like changes in our climate and adverse weather. Images of Earth from space can cause an “Overview Effect” that helps people appreciate how the Earth is fragile and instill a sense that humans must work collectively to preserve the planet. |
- The Overview Effect - NASA
- From space back to Earth: supporting sustainable development with spaceflight technologies | Sustainable Earth Reviews | Full Text (biomedcentral.com)
- 20 Inventions We Wouldn't Have Without Space Travel (nasa.gov)
- To boldly grow: how space agtech shapes farming on Earth | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)
- How space exploration is fueling the Fourth Industrial Revolution | Brookings
The above is simply to launch your exploration. We hope that you will explore more on your own and use the knowledge and information gained to create your original artwork and submit to Design Your Habitat 2.0.
