Transporting Space - A Concept for a Planetary Mobile Workstation

A mobile space laboratory must provide a crew with a completely self-contained environment to meet basic crew life support needs. Beyond basic life support the vehicle must also address operational requirements for a variety of possible research projects that may be planned for during a mission. An environment that can react to the passage of time and the changing nature of the mission is crucial to the interior architecture and design.

This project presents the design of a mobile and modular space guided by the purpose of the mission and the needs of the crew. A review of precedents offers a basis for the comparison of functional criteria and design approaches. The combined design process contributes to the development of a concept for a planetary mobile workstation. The design is based on the premise that a modular, mobile capsule can extend the research capabilities of a mission - a transformable shelter that becomes a device (like a caravan), and a device that becomes a shelter (like a car).

The concept is for a small crew of 3-4 people for short-term research on the surface of Mars. A modular capsule that can be customized for a specific mission is most efficient for space applications. Mobility allows for greater scope of research. The combination of modularity and mobility leads to a more flexible framework for exploration of the planetary surface.