Orbital Assembly of Inflatable Habitable Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for assembling and landing structures on extraterrestrial bodies are costly, time-consuming, and pose risks to human workers due to the need for surface construction, which is hazardous and prone to failure.
Innovation Solution
A method involving inflatable modules and propulsion buses with connecting nodes and landing pads is used to assemble a habitable structure in orbit, which is then landed remotely on the extraterrestrial surface, reducing the need for human intervention and enhancing safety and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If large rigid structures are used to provide acceptable volume, then the volume requirement is met, but the deployment cost increases and the structure size is limited by launch vehicle capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inflatable modules with flexible shells that can be compressed for launch and inflated to achieve large volumes at the destination. This resolves the contradiction by allowing large habitable volumes without requiring large rigid structures during launch, thereby reducing deployment costs while meeting volume requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable modules are designed to be compressed and nested within launch vehicle fairings, similar to nested dolls. This allows the structure to fit within launch constraints while expanding to the required volume after deployment, resolving the contradiction between launch vehicle size limits and final structure volume.
2Volume of stationary object
If multiple smaller rigid modules are launched and assembled on the surface, then the volume requirement is met, but the construction time increases, failure likelihood increases, and human risk is substantial
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the assembly action in orbit before landing, rather than on the surface. The inflatable modules are connected to propulsion buses and pressurized in the controlled orbital environment, eliminating the risks associated with surface assembly including human exposure to hazardous conditions and potential construction failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses propulsion buses as intermediary vehicles that carry inflatable modules from orbit to the surface. These buses provide a controlled environment for module assembly and pressurization, serving as a mediator that eliminates the need for direct surface construction and reduces failure risks.
3Ease of manufacture
If human workers assemble modules on the surface in space suits, then the structure can be constructed, but the workers are exposed to substantial risk of injury or death
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service assembly in orbit where inflatable modules are automatically or remotely connected to propulsion buses and pressurized without human intervention. This eliminates the need for human workers to don space suits and exposes them to no risk, while still achieving the construction capability.
Solution Approach 2:
All assembly and pressurization actions are completed in orbit before the structure is landed on the surface. This preliminary action in a controlled environment eliminates the need for subsequent surface construction activities that would expose workers to harmful factors.
4Ease of manufacture
If inflatable modules are used to increase volume and reduce deployment cost, then the volume-to-cost ratio improves, but the risk factor remains due to required human intervention for assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the assembly and pressurization of inflatable modules in orbit before landing, eliminating the need for risky surface construction. This maintains the cost advantages of inflatable modules while removing the reliability risks associated with human intervention during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
Propulsion buses serve as intermediary vehicles that carry and deploy inflatable modules to the surface. This intermediary approach allows the beneficial low-cost inflatable technology to be used while eliminating the need for human workers, thereby maintaining cost advantages while improving reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for rapid, cost-effective deployment of large volume structures on extraterrestrial surfaces with minimized risk to humans, ensuring successful construction and increased safety by eliminating the need for surface assembly.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible shell allows the spacecraft to exist in one of two states. The first state is the pre-deployed state where the craft can be compressed to fit within the volume of a launch fairing. After launch and when the craft is released from the fairing, the vehicle can assume the second state or the deployed state. In this state, the craft is inflated to expand to many times the size of the pre-deployed volume.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for assembling and landing a habitable module on an extraterrestrial mass is claimed. At least one inflatable module and a second module are placed into orbit about an extraterrestrial mass. Connecting nodes, propulsion busses, and landing pads are also placed into orbit. A habitable structure is constructed from the modules, busses, pads, and nodes. The structure can be robotically constructed. The habitable structure is then landed onto the surface of the extraterrestrial mass. The landing can be remotely controlled and the modules can be non-occupied.