Astronauts say smart shutters and designs should be key features of the next generation space station.
It SpaceX Crew-4 group of four astronauts, return to Earth October 14thThey have several years of space flight experience among those who have worked for two decades International Space Station (ISS). They told reporters a Press conference On Thursday (Oct. 20) their orbital headquarters are a great place to be, but next-generation stations could take the technology even further.
“We are looking to take the next leap in space exploration,” said Bob Farmer, Crew-4 pilot and NASA astronaut. “I think we really need to start thinking outside the box about a lot of these things. But first, if we’re going to do human exploration, you have to put ‘humans’ in the equation.”
While the International Space Station is currently in good health, NASA plans to move to a commercial space station as soon as 2030 and has contributed early-stage funding to support the effort. Preferred agency Space Axiom In January 2020 building a commercial unit will be the start of a completely independent private station, and expand the list Commercial destinations in low earth orbit (LEO) in December 2021 for a concept designed by Nanoracks, Northrop Grumman and blue originwho collaborated with Sierra Space on the project.
Related: NASA seeks private outposts to build on the legacy of the ISS
These companies should start thinking about new technologies that could come to commercial space stations, Farmer said. The International Space Station, he said, was a pioneer in large part; While I didn’t go into detail, an important example is recycling water from urine to reduce the need for a payload from Earth.
Farmer urges you to keep efficiency and sustainability in mind, regardless of what tech companies are dealing with. Then there is the science to consider; Jessica Watkins, crew 4 mission specialist, geologist specializing in Mars World Health Organization publication of scientific articles While in space, he urged next-generation projects to include a 360-degree dome window similar to the one received by the International Space Station in 2010 (or for that matter, the Inspiration 4 Flight missions in mod SpaceX Dragon crew capsules in 2021.)
Related: SpaceX showcases Inspiration4’s stunning ground view and new dome window
The dome of the International Space Station allows astronauts to “look out the window and see the Earth below us and make scientific observations,” Watkins said, adding that the window also offers “more opportunities for crew members to interact with the environment in which they are found “. , this is a point of view. a landor show moonor further away – on the surface of Mars ”.
Samantha Cristoforetti, commander of ISS 68, which has two long missions behind her, calls for maximum flexibility in design, especially considering other potential users such as incoming space tourists.
“We’re going to go to a commercial space station and have a space publication that may not fly into space as a professional, but it might fly into space for fun,” he said. She urged engineers to think of designs “built with humans in mind” rather than asking humans to adapt to the environment.
Cristoforetti said that designers should be involved to evaluate “the ease of use and fun in using such an object or feature,” but added that this was common in the space. “So I’m sure this will happen naturally.”
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