Week 9 - Art and Space

This week I be discussing the idea of habitation in space and its effect on the human body, and how art has portrayed the concept in the past. During the beginning of the Space Race between the US and Russia, very little was known about the effects of space on the human body. Some thought that the feeling of weightlessness would disorientate astronauts or make regular bodily functions impossible. Although this idea was quickly disproved, the absence of gravity still has detrimental effects through the atrophy of muscles, and complications with human reproduction (Shere, J.). Most of the early Gemini and Apollo missions were to verify that human beings would be physically capable of living in space for the time required to get to the moon and back (Kranz,G.).

Figure 1: Astronaut using a negative pressure chamber in order to increase blood flow and prevent detrimental effects due to long exposure to a microgravity environment.

More recently, the human population in space has become more consistent with 6 astronauts currently living in the International Space Station (Eshbach, B.). With past advances taken into account, one must ask what is next when it comes to creating habitations in space or even other planets. One concept that is scientifically favored is presented in Larry Niven’s Ringworld. Niven introduces the concept of a space station constructed like a donut or halo. This ring would rotate causing a centripetal acceleration that would mimic the force of gravity for the occupants. Replicating the force of gravity will be instrumental in developing a permanently populated structure in space.

Figure 2: Science fiction concept of a ring-shaped space station.

In addition to habitats in space, habitats on other celestial bodies will be critical for the advancement of the human race. Developing habitats on an alien surface will require large amounts of advanced robotic and manufacturing technology. The following video features Rob Mueller of NASA discussing his approach to creating habitable structures on the Martian surface.

Figure 3: Rob Mueller discusses a promising strategy for developing habitats on Mars

Expanding human habitability in space will lead to a massive furthering of man’s innate pioneering spirit. Future generations will be able to blast off into the truly final frontier.

Works Cited

Eshbach, Brad. "How Many People Are In Space Right Now?" How Many People Are In Space Right Now? Web. 30 May 2015.

"Gravity Hurts (So Good)." NASA. NASA, 2 Aug. 2001. Web. 30 May 2015.

Kranz, Gene. Failure Is Not an Option. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2000. Print.

Niven, Larry. Ringworld. New York: Ballantine, 1970. Print.

 Shere, Jeremy. "Rats in Space." Space XXVII.1 (2004). University of Indiana. Trustees of Indiana University. Web. 30 May 2015.