[Back]


Talks and Poster Presentations (without Proceedings-Entry):

S. Häuplik-Meusburger:
"The quest for habitability";
Keynote Lecture: iCHSTM 2013 - 24th International Congress of History of Science, Technology and Medicine, Manchester, UK (invited); 07-27-2013.



English abstract:
"Early spacecraft had been designed to be operated, not lived in";[1] Mercury astronauts did not climb into the spacecraft, they put it on.[2] In the beginning spacecraft design was primarily functional. After the first space missions, when NASA and the Soviets were advancing their goals for long duration missions to prove that humans could live and work in space for extended periods, the habitable design of the interior became increasingly important. The term `Habitability´ - a general term to describe the suitability and value of an environment for its inhabitants - slowly found its way into the vocabulary of spacecraft designers and engineers.

Habitability and human factors are important determinants for the design of any inhabited structure or human-used object, but beyond Earth only the habitat can secure the basic requirements of humans´ existence. Isolated from the Earth, astronauts live for a long time in a small and confined environment, completely dependent on mechanical and chemical life support systems. Therefore this kind of habitat is especially subject to careful design, planning and building. Habitability has become an important design issue.

Today we look back at a series of inhabited space habitats - as well as the presently orbiting International Space Station. What has been learned, what has been improved and what - following the experiences of the astronauts and cosmonauts - still needs to be developed?

With this presentation, the author will outline the demanding relationship between the inhabitant and the built environment and the growing importance of habitability throughout the history of spaceflight as summarized in a previous evaluation of space habitats.[3] The author will further review selected designs and recommendations for improving the standard of living and working onboard the International Space Station today.


[1] Compton, et al., Living and Working in Space, A History of Skylab, 1983 p. 130

[2] John Glenn, 1962

[3] Häuplik-Meusburger, Architecture for Astronauts, Springer Press, 2011; Selected case studies were: Apollo Spacecraft and Lunar Module, Salyut Space Station, Skylab Space Station, Space Shuttle Orbiter, Mir Space Station and the International Space Station.

German abstract:
"Early spacecraft had been designed to be operated, not lived in";[1] Mercury astronauts did not climb into the spacecraft, they put it on.[2] In the beginning spacecraft design was primarily functional. After the first space missions, when NASA and the Soviets were advancing their goals for long duration missions to prove that humans could live and work in space for extended periods, the habitable design of the interior became increasingly important. The term `Habitability´ - a general term to describe the suitability and value of an environment for its inhabitants - slowly found its way into the vocabulary of spacecraft designers and engineers.

Habitability and human factors are important determinants for the design of any inhabited structure or human-used object, but beyond Earth only the habitat can secure the basic requirements of humans´ existence. Isolated from the Earth, astronauts live for a long time in a small and confined environment, completely dependent on mechanical and chemical life support systems. Therefore this kind of habitat is especially subject to careful design, planning and building. Habitability has become an important design issue.

Today we look back at a series of inhabited space habitats - as well as the presently orbiting International Space Station. What has been learned, what has been improved and what - following the experiences of the astronauts and cosmonauts - still needs to be developed?

With this presentation, the author will outline the demanding relationship between the inhabitant and the built environment and the growing importance of habitability throughout the history of spaceflight as summarized in a previous evaluation of space habitats.[3] The author will further review selected designs and recommendations for improving the standard of living and working onboard the International Space Station today.


[1] Compton, et al., Living and Working in Space, A History of Skylab, 1983 p. 130

[2] John Glenn, 1962

[3] Häuplik-Meusburger, Architecture for Astronauts, Springer Press, 2011; Selected case studies were: Apollo Spacecraft and Lunar Module, Salyut Space Station, Skylab Space Station, Space Shuttle Orbiter, Mir Space Station and the International Space Station.

Keywords:
Habitability, Human Factors, Habitats

Created from the Publication Database of the Vienna University of Technology.