DOMEstic Reseach Paper by Thomas Glassock-Warren

Under the dome mission log

Project: DOMEstic Author:Thomas Glassock-Warren ID: c3322523

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Abstract Humans are ever seeking to explore and expand with Mars identified as the most suitable place for them to become a multiplanetary species. Therefore, it is the aim of this project to design and develop residential structures for the first 100 people to colonise Mars. To achieve this goal, research into the challenges of building on Mars and how similar projects addressed these issues is first conducted; followed by a phase of concept exploration through rapid diagramming to find a suitable design solution. This design solution is then further tested using rhino and grasshopper computer software until an optimal final outcome is achieved.

Mars rover Curiosity taking a ‘selfie’ during its exploration and mapping of the planets surface.

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table of contents TITLE

PAGE NUMBER

Abstract

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Introduction

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Inspiration

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Methodology

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Final Outcome

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Limitations and Conclusions

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References

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DOMEstic was a group project with the design and documentation colaborativly worked on alongside Caleb Nixon and Thomas Davies.

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Introduction The colonisation of Mars is fraught with challenges outside of the project requirements to provide residences for 100 people and limit the usage of materials needed from earth as planetary conditions present many hazards. Radiation exposure on Mars is extremely high due to the planet not having a magnetic field with radiation levels 2.5 time higher than those experienced on the international space station. This poses all sorts of health problems including radiation sickness, genetic damage, cancer and death. (Williams 2016) Mars’ atmosphere is extremely thin and is 95% carbon dioxide making the air unbreathable; requiring colonists to either always wear a breathing apparatus or to pressurise the residential structures and have oxygen vented in. (Sharp 2017) Powerful global dust storms and the planets low gravity could present dangers to above ground structures with the lateral forces possibly toppling them over. Mars has poor natural energy sources generating half the solar power of earth, having a cool planet core and infrequent winds which make geothermal and wind energy unreliable. (Mars Education, 2020)

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The Uzboi Vallis was selected as the site for the first colony on Mars with the favourable landscape providing shelter from Mars’ adverse conditions. Located in an ancient riverbed the site provides shelter from dust storms and has a soft ground composition for easy ground excavation, resource collection and ship landing. Furthermore, there is believed to be groundwater located in holden crater to the sites north. (JPL NASA, 2017)

Colony

Images showing the site location on Mars.

3D model of site topography.

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Landing Pad

Inspiration BJARKE INGELS GROUP (BIG ARCHITECTURE) Mars Science City Commissioned by the United Arab Emirates as part of their 100-year plan to colonise Mars, the Mars Science City project is an exploration of what a Martian vernacular architecture could be. The project explores in depth how the conditions of Mars will affect structural design with extensive research into the optimum solutions to these conditions. Mars Science City helped develop ideas for how occupant comfort and safety could both be achieved in the residential dwellings through the use of a geodesic dome and above and below ground structures to layer radiation protection. Furthermore, the project’s exploration into how it could be expanded upon to accommodate more people provoked consideration into how the DOMEstic design would develop to house the colonies increasing population.

(Arquitectura Viva, 2021)

Render of Mars Science City.

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Series of diagrams considering the benefits of different construction methods.

The final form, showing how combinding different construction methods addresses all the challenges of building on Mars.

Diagram of how Mars Science City may expand as the population increases.

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AI SPACE FACTORY MARSHA AI Space factory's MARSHA was designed and built as part of NASA’s 3D Printed Habitat competition and won second place. Challenging the purely functional form of architecture in the space age AI Space Factory focused on human needs to create highly liveable structures.

This concept informed much of the internal layout, design and experience of the DOMEstic structures and inspired design ideas for human well-being such as creating a shielded entry for natural light using water filled skylights. The use of an internal and external wall also influenced the DOMEstic design as this improves a structures resistance to pressurisation forces and reduces the likelihood of depressurisation. (AI Space Factory, 2021)

Render of MARSHA.

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MARSHA floorplans showing internal layouts and construction details.

Internal render of the kitchen and lab space.

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Sectional model showing the internal relationship across that levels.

Model of MARSHA showing the internal and external walls.

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HASELL & ECKERSLEY O’CALLAGHAN Hassell Habitat The Hassel Habitat was designed for the NASA 3D printed habitat challenge with the goal of creating a home away from home and extending the design past just occupant safety and survival. DOMEstic was inspired by Hassell Habitat’s construction which incorporates a inflatable structure to temporarily support and guide 3D printing activities allowing larger structures whilst reducing the amount of material and time required. Hassell also showed how this 3D printed structure could be formed to create protected access points and viewports without compromising on radiation protection. (Hassell, 2018)

Render of Hassell Habitat.

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Exploded axonometric showing the outer 3D printed shell, inner inflated structure and internal layout.

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A render showing how the inflatable structure is used to form the compartments for of the Hassel habitat.

A sectional model showing how the 3D printed shell protects the internal structure.

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Methodology The concept for DOMEstic was developed from both the site conditions and precedents researched with the goal of creating a residential structure that maximises safety without compromising on human comfort. As part of this concept the design will create residential structures that share a small communal space to encourage interaction and reduce the sense of isolation.

The research into both the conditions of Mars and precedent projects emphasised the need for residential structures, particularly sleeping compartments to be underground to reduce the amount of radiation a person is exposed to. However, due to the challenges of generating electricity and the psychological benefits, defusing natural light down the structures multiple levels was needed.

Section of private underground residence with a diagramed light well system used to defuse light down the different levels.

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Early drawings of the design layout for public and private spaces including how to connect the different spaces via underground tunnels and the relationship between partly buried underground residential spaces and the above ground public space.

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Exploration of how skylights could be used to deflect light into the communal space whilst still reducing radiation exposure.

The following series of drawings explore different methods of colony expansion.

Attaching residential pods together outside a communal dome was the first idea but due to the construction complexity of excavating without damaging the existing pod and then attaching them this idea was deemed unsuitable.

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The second idea was for each residential dome to be separate with connection to each other through a larger central dome. However, this raised concerns that if the central dome malfunctioned the separate residential domes would be isolated.

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The third design was for a dome shape that allowed two residential domes to connect creating a residential cluster. This was the most suitable concept for residential expansion as the residential clusters function almost like suburbs with the ability for people to easily move enabling redundancy.

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A floorplan showing the final placement of the residential pods and shape of the dome at ground level that allows for two domes to be easily connected.

Diagram of how the interconnected residential clusters could be arranged around one of the central domes such as fabrication.

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Settling on the forms of both the private residence pods and the dome in plan and section further development and finalisation of these structures was undertaken using rhino and grasshopper design software.

Elevation of a residential pod showing the spacing between the two walls for the light well.

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The digital model of the residential pods was used to finalise the thickness for the inner and outer walls, the positioning of the skylights and confirm that the light well system would defuse light through the multiple levels.

Perspective of a residential pod showing the final positioning of the skylights and wall thicknesses.

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The residential pod model was also used to design different ways of moving between the pod’s levels with a ladder design for space saving and staircase design for people less mobile.

Residential pod with ladder.

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Residential pod with staircase.

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These final images show how the residential pods connect underground and how they access the surface via a central lift.

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For the residential dome an early concept was to have a geodesic dome outer layer with a 3D octagon inner shape, but this form would have been extremely hard to construct and is not suitable for the idea of interconnected residential domes.

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The development of the final dome form was achieved by taking the drawn shape of the dome at ground level and pulling it upwards until desired dome size and shape is created.

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Final Outcome The final design for the DOMEstic residential habitat creates a safe structure through complete radiation protection in the private pods reducing inhabitant exposure, protection from dust storms and a robust internal pressurisation system via the inner and outer walls. A comfortable home with flexible floorplans, natural light, above ground open space, sense of community, thermal and spatial comfort. An achievable construction process using automated 3D printing construction methods involving regolith (Mars soil) and only requiring light weight, easily transportable building components from earth.

WHAT THE DESIGN ACHIEVES - Complete Radiation Protection.

- Internal Pressurisation.

- Spatial Comfort.

- Thermal Comfort.

- Protection From Dust Storms.

- Sense of Community.

- Use of 3D Printing Construction Methods.

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First floor plan showing the sleep quarters in four different layouts to suit the needs of each pod’s occupants.

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The second floor is the entry point into the private residences from the central lift and is mostly for storage and research equipment.

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On the third floor is the recreational area with space for people to entertain and unwind.

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The ground floor communal space with plants and natural sunlight to enhance people’s well-being.

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Section showing how all these different levels connect.

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Perspective through the residential pod as it’s being constructed; showing the function of the temporary inflated structure.

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Axonometric section of residential pods and dome.

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Stage 3

Stage 2

Stage 1

The exploded axonometric shows the three stages of construction of the DOMEstic habitat which starts with the excavation and construction of the below ground private pods; followed by the inflation of the temporary internal dome structure and the 3D printing of the dome. After these stages the temporary structure is deflated for reuse and the dome openings are sealed with pressurised access hatches.

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Limitations and Conclusions The DOMEstic habitat responds well to the conditions of Mars and the challenges colonising it presents. A major difficulty for the project was balancing human comfort with safety. This was especially the case for managing radiation exposure whilst still allowing natural light into the structure as it was an unfamilar challenge; being an insignificant design concern on earth.

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References AI Space Factory. (2021). Marsha. https://www.aispacefactory. com/ Arquitectura Viva. (2021, October 17). Mars science city. https:// arquitecturaviva.com/works/mars-science-city Hassell. (2018). NASA 3D printed habitat challenge. https://www. hassellstudio.com/project/nasa-3d-printed-habitat-challenge JPL NASA. (2017, March 16). Layered deposits in Uzboi Vallis. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/layered-deposits-in-uzboi-vallis Mars Education. (2020). Atmosphere. Arizona State University. https://marsed.asu.edu/mep/atmosphere Sharp, T. (2017, September 12). Mars’ atmosphere: Composition, climate & weather. https://www.space.com/16903-marsatmosphere-climate-weather.html Williams, M. (2016, November 21). Cosmic ray environment.

Physorg. https://phys.org/news/2016-11-bad-mars.html

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Iamge References AI Space Factory. (2021). Marsha. https://www.aispacefactory. com/ Arquitectura Viva. (2021, October 17). Mars science city. https:// arquitecturaviva.com/works/mars-science-city Choi, C. Q. (2021, October 1). Mars: What we know about the Red Planet. Space.com https://www.space.com/47-mars-the-redplanet-fourth-planet-from-the-sun.html Coffey, J. (2008, December 19). What is the Atmosphere Like on Mars?. Universe Today. https://www.universetoday.com/22587/ Gray, J. (2021, March 31). Mars Curiosity rover sends ‘selfie’ from its ongoing tour of Mars. Digital Photography Review. https://www. dpreview.com/news/5199707458/mars-curiosity-rover-sendsselfie-from-its-ongoing-tour-of-mars Hassell. (2018). NASA 3D printed habitat challenge. https://www. hassellstudio.com/project/nasa-3d-printed-habitat-challenge JPL NASA. (2017, March 16). Layered deposits in Uzboi Vallis. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/layered-deposits-in-uzboi-vallis Pen State. (2018, July 30). Mars dust storm may lead to new weather discoveries. Weathernation. https://www.weathernationtv. com/news/mars-dust-storm-may-lead-new-weather-discoveries/

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