space habitat

Nasa has partnered with eight US universities on developing new technologies to support its deep space exploration, including the journey to Mars.

Part of 2016 X-Hab Academic Innovation Challenge, the programme is being conducted by the agency along with the National Space Grant Foundation.

The teams will design concepts and technologies to strengthen Nasa’s capabilities for future exploration missions.

Nasa Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) division director Jason Crusan said: "These strategic collaborations lower the barrier for university students to assist Nasa in bridging gaps and increasing our knowledge in architectural design trades, capabilities and technology risk reduction, related to exploration activities that will eventually take humans farther into space than ever before."

As part of the challenge, the teams will devise technology to produce metals for zero-gravity environments, inflatable / deployable airlock structures, designs for Mars transit habitat, deep space Mars transit habitat layout studies, and concentration swing frequency response devices.

"These strategic collaborations lower the barrier for university students to assist Nasa in bridging gaps and increasing our knowledge."

The concepts also include student experimental microgravity plant system, improved water delivery of a modular vegetable production system, and enhanced Mars OASIS space plant growth system.

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Participants have been chosen from the University of Puerto Rico, University of Maryland, Pratt Institute, Oklahoma State University, University of South Alabama, Utah State University, Ohio State University, and University of Colorado-Boulder.

Members from the agency’s human exploration and operations mission directorate will help the project teams design, manufacture, assemble and test their systems.

Nasa staff will also work with students on various concepts, including additive manufacturing, advanced life support systems, space habitation, and systems for food production in space.

Funds for design, development and evaluation of the projects will be managed by the National Space Grant Foundation.

Image: The 2011 version of deep space habitat at the Desert Research and Technology Studies (Desert RATS) analogue field test site in Arizona. Photo: courtesy of Nasa.