If you’re looking for a nice two-story, walk-up* withspectacular views from the Moon, Mars or any potential deep space destination,look no further than the NASA Habitat Demonstration Unit (HDU) and their newlyadded second level!
Of course, the HDU, the new second level and a soon to beadded Hygiene Module together form the Deep Space Habitat configuration of theHDU that will be featured in this year’s D-RATS analog field test.
But, I am getting ahead of myself. The essential 2nd level has not been completelydecided on yet.
There are currently three different options being consideredthrough a fascinating competition know as the X-Hab Academic InnovationChallenge. Three Universities wereselected from a number of entries to design, build and demonstrate their inflatablehabitat concepts all the way from CAD drawings to a full scale demonstrationunit.
Each school has one week to deploy their version of theinterstellar penthouse on top of NASA’s current HDU at NASA Johnson SpaceCenter. The final demonstration units will be judged on manydifferent criteria, such as ratio between the packed hab’s volume and thedeployed hab’s volume, deployment time, lowest hourly pressure decay andself-support due to loss of internal pressure. Coincidentally, these align perfectly with my every dayliving requirements!
The three schools are Oklahoma State University (June 6th– 10th,) the University of Maryland (June 13th – 17th)and the University of Wisconsin (June 20th – 24th.) The pictures below were taken duringour trip to NASA Johnson while the University of Maryland was testing andinstalling their demo unit.
University of Maryland unpacks and weighs their Hab Demo Unit. Credit: Co-Host
University of Maryland Hab Demo Unit soon to be joined with NASA’s Hab Demo Unit. Credit: Co-Host
University of Maryland’s Hab Demo Unit Deployed! Credit: Co-Host
All of the teams have overcome many different obstacles andengineering challenges to deliver their inflatable habs, but the learningexperience from the process itself is invaluable. As one student commented when asked about seeing theirteam’s demonstration being deployed, “I’m curious. I’m excited, but we all really want to see if our ideas workwell.”
For the winners? Their demonstration will experience full field implementation duringNASA’s analog field test in Arizone (D-RATS 2011.) The winning design will be announced sometime during theweek of June 27th – July 1st, 2011.
For the record, I volunteer to stay in the winner’sdemonstration unit as long as they agree to fully return my security depositwhen the analog is finished. Plus,I SPLIT the utilities with my fellow medianauts from NASA EDGE. Too many times, I’ve been left with thetab.
For more information on NASA’s HDU and the Challenge, please visit the following sites:
X-Hab Academic Innovation Challenge
X-Hab Partner – The National Space Grant Foundation
Good Luck! And may the best Hab win!
The Co-Host
*Walk-up can refer to the fact that a particular apartmentis accessible via stairs only. Imean that it is easily accessible by pedestrians that happen to be in thevicinity of building 220 at NASA Johnson or the Black Point Lava Flow inArizona sometime in August 2011.
The X-Hab site just updated with pictures from last week’s team, Oklahoma State University. Check it out!
The Co-Host
https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/analogs/osu_xhab2011.html
I am wondering how the moon will be efected by the gravitational pulls from the Galactic allignment. That area where we cross is also part of astroids that are frequently passing by gravity. If there is a poler shift by the earth it would cause wheather patterns to change. It also would cause the same efect with our moon to shift. Also at that point there would be a slight tug of war between the black hole and the sun. Can we messure the gravitational difference theat the earth is going to encounter by te use of a drone. Are there minnerals that could be collected in the area. I do not feel that the gravity is strong enough to move alaska to the equater. I do feel that it has that power with the moon becuae our gravity pull is lesst then that of the sun. My fear is the event of a series of quakes that combined with a pull and a solerflare that it may change the axis and climate change around the world would be felt. Could be a warming trend or a beginning of an ice age. One that we are long over due for. Then the Astroid in 2014 could be a desaster. Knowing that the poles shift it may change where we are in its path and near miss in 2013 and a full frontal in 2022 instead of 2036. Run the math a stronger pull on one front and a thrust from another plus soler flares. Has one also ever been recorded hitting a astroid before. could it change its cource. Maybe a colission with another astroid durring the event could cause fragments meaning the increase for falling stars. however a double impact of over 300,000 H bombs at two locations could mean extintion. Configure it all and add it up. I am down to 2014 as the end date. April 2013 as where the most wheather desasters will be rampaging the earth. The Moon will also have two full cycles. Meaning the new moon comes after the first full moon in that period. Tides will be higher and energy will be more active then before. Albert was crazy maybe me too. But take a look it is very possible. God Speed
“This is some interesting information. Thanks again for this post.”
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Thanks,
The Co-Host
“I have no idea how does it look NASA from insight. It must really be thrilling to be able to see what’s there, especially in the NASA Johnson Space Center”
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The Co-Host
“I didn’t heard anything since a long time about it.. What’s news?”
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The Co-Host
Paul,
We actually announced the winner in our Video Podcast, NASA EDGE. You can find the episode on our site:
http://www.nasa.gov/nasaedge
or you can go to the show directly by clicking the link below:
https://www.nasa.gov/mp4/579548main_NE00081411_at30_X-Hab.mp4
Thanks,
The Co-Host
I envy the winners, because being even the tiniest part of NASA is among the best things that can happen in your life.
I am down to 2014 as the end date. April 2013 as where the most wheather desasters will be rampaging the earth. The Moon will also have two full cycles. Meaning the new moon comes after the first full moon in that period. Tides will be higher and energy will be more active then before. Albert was crazy maybe me too. But take a look it is very possible.
I think I now know how to surprise my husband for his 30th anniversary- my only aim being shockingly unexpected and different from what I have gifted him so far. I am truely impressed by the project.
“Three Universities were selected from a number of entries to design, build and demonstrate their inflatable habitat concepts all the way from CAD drawings to a full scale demonstration unit.
Each school has one week to deploy their version of the interstellar penthouse on top of NASA’s current HDU at NASA Johnson Space Center. The final demonstration units will be judged on many different criteria, such as ratio between the packed hab’s volume and the deployed hab’s volume, deployment time, lowest hourly pressure decay and self-support due to loss of internal pressure. Coincidentally, these align perfectly with my every day living requirements! hmmmmm
Vijeth Kumar”
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Thanks,
The Co-Host
“Great post and so interesting. Glad I stopped by, and continued good luck with the blog hop!”
Note – We are unable use external links (ads, spam, etc…) due to NASA rules and regulations.
Thanks,
The Co-Host