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Space colonization--some physiological perspectives.
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|July 1, 1978
Summary
Establishing a 10,000-person space community is feasible with current technology. Key requirements include Earth-normal gravity, radiation limits (0.5 rem/year), and a specific atmosphere, though further research is needed for potential constraint relaxation.
Area of Science:
- Space Exploration
- Biomedical Engineering
- Habitat Design
Background:
- Current technology allows for self-sustaining space communities.
- Understanding of physiological design criteria for space habitats is insufficient.
- An engineering workshop in 1975 addressed these critical knowledge gaps.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize biomedical findings from a 1975 engineering workshop.
- To assess the feasibility of establishing a large, economically productive space community.
- To identify essential physiological design criteria for space habitats.
Main Methods:
- Review of biomedical findings from a cosponsored engineering workshop.
- Analysis of physiological constraints including gravity, radiation, and atmosphere.
- Conservative estimation of habitat requirements for a 10,000-person community.
Main Results:
- A viable, economically productive space community of 10,000 people is theoretically possible.
- Key requirements include: centrifugally generated Earth-normal gravity, maximum ionizing radiation dose of 0.5 rem/year (passive shielding), and a normoxic, reduced nitrogen partial pressure atmosphere.
- These criteria are based on conservative physiological standards.
Conclusions:
- The establishment of a large space community is feasible with present technology and conservative physiological standards.
- Extensive research is necessary to determine the extent to which physiological constraints can be relaxed.
- Further investigation is crucial for optimizing space habitat design and ensuring long-term human health in space.