By Dr. Gary L. Deel | 06/21/2024
The possibility of creating space habitats – permanently inhabited habitats installed into our solar system – is a topic that has been extensively explored. Discussions surrounding space habitats have been prevalent in both science fiction and scientific research for decades. The feasibility of establishing habitats relies on advancements in technological and various scientific fields, along with significant financial and logistical backing.
The History of Space Habitats
The concept of space habitats can be traced back to visionaries like Russian aerospace engineer Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, who first introduced the idea of space stations in the 20th century. American physicist Gerard K. O'Neill further popularized the development of space habitats in the 1970s through his proposals for self-sustaining space colonies.
Humanity reached a significant milestone when the Soviet Union launched Salyut 1 in 1971 – establishing the world’s first-ever space station. This achievement laid the groundwork for future space habitats and stations like Salyut 6, Salyut 7, and later the advanced Mir station, which was operational from 1986 to 2001.
Mir played a role as a space platform for long-term research. It also hosted various international missions that significantly contributed to our knowledge of living in space.
Concurrently, the United States also embarked on its own space habitat ventures. Skylab, launched in 1973, became America’s first space station.
It functioned primarily as a laboratory for conducting scientific experiments in microgravity. But despite its relatively short lifespan, Skylab demonstrated the feasibility of sustaining human presence in space over extended periods.
The International Space Station Is the Pinnacle of Space Habitats So Far
To date, the International Space Station (ISS) stands out as the pinnacle achievement for space habitat projects. This collaborative endeavor – involving participation from NASA, Roscosmos, European Space Agency (ESA), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) – was launched in 1998.
Since then, the ISS has accommodated a rotating crew engaged in diverse research endeavors across multiple disciplines over the last 26 years. The ISS has played a huge role in advancing technology for space habitats and offered more insights into life support systems, the impact of long-term microgravity on human health, and the potential for global collaboration in space exploration.
What Are the Reasons for Developing and Constructing Space Habitats?
The motivation behind building space habitats goes beyond curiosity or a thirst for exploration. There are legitimate justifications for humanity to pursue the development of these living spaces in orbit and beyond.
One such justification is to ensure human survival and civilization continuity. Space habitats offer a way to safeguard humanity’s long-term survival.
Earth continued to face the risk of disasters, pandemics, and other catastrophic occurrences. By establishing space habitats, humans can create a safety net for civilization, ensuring that a disaster on Earth does not lead to the extinction of our species.
Another reason to pursue space habitats is for advancements in science. Space habitats offer settings for exploration.
The absence of gravity allows for experiments that are impossible to conduct on Earth , so this kind of research leads to progress in fields such as materials science, biology, and physics. The controlled environment of space habitats enables researchers to carry out long-term studies without the influence of Earth’s changing conditions.
A third motivation for space habitats lies in economic opportunities. The commercialization of space opens up a lot of prospects for private-sector businesses.
Space habitats can act as base points for asteroid mining, providing access to minerals and resources. Additionally, the emergence of space tourism as an industry is evident through investments made by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin in developing infrastructure for space travel.
Fourth, space habitats could potentially serve to relieve population pressures. With Earth’s population continuously increasing, space habitats could help to ease population burdens. These habitats could sustain life in a manner that lessens strain on Earth’s ecosystems and resources.
Fifth and finally, space habitats can promote exploration and innovation. The endeavor of constructing space habitats spurs progress and innovation. The advancement of materials, energy sources, communication facilities, and life-sustaining systems for space exploration could positively impact life on Earth by enhancing our quality of living and technological advancements.
The Technological Challenges of Constructing Habitats in Space
Despite the motivations for developing space habitats, there are significant challenges that currently stand in the way of bringing this vision to life.
One such challenge lies in life support systems. A major hurdle is developing self-sustaining life support systems capable of supporting human life over extended periods. That would involve ensuring clean air supplies, clean water, food provisions, waste management facilities, and resource recycling.
Another challenge is radiation shielding for future space habitats. Space habitats must shield their residents from cosmic radiation and solar flares. While Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere offer protection on our planet, advanced shielding technologies are necessary in space to prevent radiation exposure, which can result in health issues like cancer.
Creating artificial gravity is yet another problem. Prolonged exposure to microgravity poses health risks, such as muscle weakening and bone density reduction. Although concepts like rotating habitats to generate gravity using force are theoretically feasible, they present substantial engineering and construction challenges in actual practice.
An additional problem is upkeep and maintenance issues. The construction and maintenance of structures in space poses considerable logistical and financial obstacles at present.
For instance, building and maintaining the International Space Station (ISS) required multiple missions that were extremely complicated and expensive, as well as international collaboration efforts. To create intricate habitats in the future, advancements in robotic construction, modular design, and utilizing resources available onsite will be essential.
Another challenge – though not one without a solution – is energy provision. Ensuring an adequate energy supply is crucial for a space settlement.
While solar power stands out as a solid, reliable choice, enhancing this technology to capture and store solar energy – especially in low light conditions – is still a work in progress. Although nuclear power could offer a solution, it presents its own set of challenges and risks.
Last but not least, the financial needs of space habitats are a huge challenge as well. The high cost of launching materials and equipment into space poses an expensive obstacle to space settlement.
Despite efforts by companies like SpaceX to reduce launch expenses with reusable rockets and other innovations, the overall cost remains a substantial concern. Finding ways to transport huge amounts of material into space at reasonable costs is imperative for future developments.
Overcoming the Challenges Posed by Technology
Dealing with these limitations presents a challenge that demands ongoing investment and innovative solutions. However, progress can already be seen in many of these areas.
On the issue of support systems capable of supporting humans, organizations like NASA are actively working on systems like the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), which is currently utilized on the ISS. Research into new support systems that support life and leverage plants and microorganisms to recycle air and water is also ongoing, and this technology potentially holds promise for future living environments.
In regard to the challenge of radiation shielding, progress in materials science has driven the creation of shielding materials that can enhance protection against dangerous space radiation. Exploration into magnetic fields and electric fields for radiation shielding is also underway, potentially offering novel approaches for future habitat protection.
On creating artificial gravity, extensive research has been conducted on the idea of using rotating habitats to generate the sensation of gravity through centripetal/centrifugal force. While large-scale rotating habitats have yet to be constructed, studies and models on the impacts of gravity and the associated engineering challenges are moving forward.
In regard to habitat building and maintenance, new advancements in construction technology are evident – as seen in initiatives like NASA’s Robotic Refueling Mission – which showcases the ability of robots to tackle tasks in space. Also, exploring the utilization of resources in space for construction through in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) shows promise in its research as well.
On the challenge of providing continuous energy, advancements in the efficiency of solar panels and energy storage systems are addressing space habitats’ energy supply challenges. Ongoing studies on space-based power, involving the harnessing of energy in space and transmitting it to either low Earth orbit or in-space habitats, are also being conducted.
Finally, on the push for cost reduction, the introduction of reusable rockets by companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin has significantly lowered the expenses associated with space launches. In addition, continued progress in launch technology and heightened competition within the space industry are projected to drive down costs even further.
The Timeline for Constructing Space Habitats in Our Solar System
It's quite a challenge to pinpoint the timeline for building space habitats, due to the nature of the technological and financial obstacles involved in creating a habitable space. But considering the current trends and progress being made, it seems feasible that we could see the establishment of multiple new space habitats within the coming decades. Initial prototypes and smaller-scale habitats might emerge in as little as 10 to 20 years’ time, with larger and more intricate habitats following suit as technology and infrastructure continue to advance.
The Ongoing Progress in Space Habitat Development from the Private Sector
At present, numerous companies and entities are actively engaged in various research platforms advancing space habitat technologies.
One such company is Bigelow Aerospace. Bigelow has introduced habitat modules like the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) that is currently attached to the ISS.
These modules offer impressive living space and are designed to be more cost-effective (due to their inflatable nature) when compared with traditional rigid structures. Bigelow’s vision includes their B330 model that boasts a massive 12,000 cubic feet of living space. It is aimed at supporting extended human habitation in space.
Axiom Space is another company working on this frontier. It is working towards establishing the world’s first private space station.
Axiom plans to send its module to join the ISS in just a few years, with the aspirations of eventually creating an independent space station later on. Axiom’s layout includes living spaces, research labs, and production sites that offer a setup for space operations.
A third company pursuing space habitat investment is SpaceX. Though mainly focused on transportation services at present, SpaceX is also designing the Starship spacecraft to transport groups of individuals and cargo to space destinations, eventually including the moon and Mars. The progress of the Starship project is a significant move towards facilitating the establishment of space habitats by supplying the transport infrastructure necessary to build and maintain them.
Orbital Assembly Corporation is yet another player in this space. Orbital Assembly Corporation is dedicated to developing the Voyager Station, a rotating space station designed to generate artificial gravity through centripetal/centrifugal force. This ambitious initiative aims to offer a setting with gravity to that of Earth, addressing at least one significant challenge associated with prolonged stays in outer space.
The Ongoing Progress in Space Habitat Development from the Public Sector
Several national and international/governmental space agencies are also currently involved in the advancement of space habitats. For example, NASA is currently pursuing several new projects on this front.
Most significantly, it is actively engaged in creating the Lunar Gateway, a space station planned to orbit the Moon and support exploration and potential long-term living. This initiative is part of the Artemis program, which aims to bring humans to the Moon and establish a human presence back on the lunar surface by the end of this decade.
NASA is working closely with partners like the ESA, the CSA, and JAXA on developing the Gateway. Each partner brings different modules and technologies to the table to ensure an optimal approach to habitat construction.
The ESA is also focused on future space habitat studies and the European Large Logistics Lander (ELLL) for supplying cargo to the surface of the Moon. With this initiative, the ESA is indirectly supporting the NASA Lunar Gateway and other programs for habitat development.
Space organizations are not only concentrating on exploring the Moon, either. They are also planning for future missions to Mars.
NASA’s Mars habitat ideas, such as the Mars Ice Home, form part of its strategy for sending humans to Mars in the 2030s. Additionally, the ISS remains a base for studying the impacts of long-term space living, experimenting with space habitation technologies, and refining life support systems necessary for new space settlements. This collaborative effort involving different agencies highlights the dedication to enhancing outer space living technology and getting ready for a time when humans can reside and operate in space for extended durations on a regular basis.
It’s also worth mentioning that Russia’s Roscosmos has also shown interest in collaborating on Mars missions, potentially contributing expertise in habitat modules based on their experience with space station modules. However, Russia’s complicated place on the world stage at the moment – including its ongoing invasion of Ukraine – has frustrated international relations and threatened the viability of future collaboration with other nations on space projects.
Ultimately, Developing Space Habitats Will Benefit Humanity
The potential for future space habitats in our solar system is not just theoretical. This pursuit holds a lot of prospective value for humanity’s future in outer space.
The drive to create these habitats stems from a mix of scientific interest, economic prospects, and the need to ensure society’s survival, endurance, and progress in the long run. While there are substantial hurdles in terms of technology and finances, ongoing progress in life support systems, radiation shielding, artificial gravity, construction methods, and cost reduction are all bringing us closer to realizing the concept of space habitats.
With various private companies and national space agencies actively building space habitats, significant advancements are expected in the coming decades. Initial prototypes and small-scale habitats could be up and running within 10 to 20 years, paving the way for more permanent structures and permanently inhabited habitats. As technology progresses and the costs of traveling to space decreases, the dream of residing and working in future space habitats might soon come to reality and usher in new horizons for exploration and advancement.
Space Studies Degrees at American Military University
For adult learners interested in permanently inhabited habitats installed in outer space and other space-related topics, American Military University (AMU) offers three degrees:
- An online associate degree in space studies
- An online bachelor’s degree in space studies
- An online master’s degree in space studies
The courses in these programs were designed by a former NASA astronaut and cover a wide range of topics, including space exploration, planetary exploration, space weapons, space weather, and astronomy. Space studies students may also have the opportunity to participate in telescope research projects, including the use of a remote-controlled observatory and a 24-inch aperture telescope.
To learn more about AMU’s space studies degrees, visit our program page.
