OrbiTech
OrbiTech is an orbital infrastructure dedicated to production and research. Additional functions are tourism, hospital, instruction and complementary services.
Project Media
1 Concept
TARGET OrbiTech is an orbital infrastructure dedicated to production and research. Additional functions are tourism, hospital, instruction and complementary services. SpaceHub is the starting module for the composition of a planetomorphic orbital station, expandable up to a maximum of 10,000 inhabitants. Its dimensions determine functions that will be implemented over time: spaces for education, places of worship, first aid and assistance, small farms and fish farms. STARTING POINT CNS has studied the SpaceHub, space habitat for 100 people with interchange node functions, research center, manufacturing and maintenance workshop for incoming / outgoing shuttles and resort for tourists. Scaled up to host 2000 people: we call it SpaceHub+ PLANETOMORPHIC CONCEPT There are several projects of big Government space agencies! We have seen that many of these projects were in the past considered futuristic visions, founding their implementation only in science fiction movies. Thus, with a view to combine architectural research and space technology, both, the already available and the futuristic ones CNS has coined the term "Orbitecture®", contraction of "Orbital Architecture", integrated discipline that includes the study of space infrastructure architectures, in terms of feasibility and conceptual design. The concept, the team of CNS submits in terms of feasibility criteria, take the form of a “planet-morphic” concept, with typically planetary geometry, with the aim to producing an orbital infrastructure with secure connection to the Earth, and perfect permanence in orbit, representing a real frontier gateway for the future exploration of the universe.
2 Cartesio
CARTESIO is the modular expansion of the Spacehub study by the CNS team, capable of accommodating up to 10,000 inhabitants, has a diameter of 400 m. It contains 5 SpaceHub+ modules aligned along ICARO, a space elevator axis of rotation and connection between the modules, each of 2,000 inhabitants, that together form a spatial colony circumscribed by a spherical membrane called Dedalo. DEDALO, radius ca.400 m responsible for energy production and protection from solar radiation. Furthermore a part of this series of triangular concave pieces, in equal measure to have 15 antennas per hemisphere with a diameter of 20 m for the telecommunication between the Earth and the inner planets (Mars mainly). The spatial colony have 2 telescopes to trace the deep space on the opposite poles of Cartesio, while among the SpaceHub+ modules at the extremes of ICARO there are 2 Drydock for docking spaceships. CARTESIO CONSTRUCTION PHASES (10.000 pax) CARTESIO construction process involves 8 phases: 1. construction of the first 2.000 pax SpaceHub+ 1 2. DRY DOCK 3. second module 2.000 pax SpaceHub+ 2 4. third module 2.000 pax SpaceHub+ 3 5. fourth module 2.000 pax SpaceHub+ 4 6. DRY DOCK 7. fifth module 2.000 pax SpaceHub+ 5 8. CARTESIO membrane construction with Spiderfab DEDALO SpaceHub+ CONSTRUCTION PHASES (module 2.000 pax) SpaceHub+ construction process involves 6 phases: 1. placing the capsule in orbit inflatable capsule 2. structural stiffening with Spiderfab MIRANDA 3. proliferation of cyanobacteria MIRANDA water glove (10 cm thick) 4. spatial trusses space elevator 5. toroid formation with TBM 3Dprint ARISTARCO/GALILAEI 6. proliferation of cyanobacteria ARISTARCO/GALILAEI water glove (10 cm thick)
4 Miranda
110 m in diameter, welcoming the tertiary / production / training and research sectors. The central core of the SpaceHub + is destined to the tertiary and low-gravity production (vaccines, medicines, materials, spare parts for the station and for means of transport, but also energy, water and air (or water cycle), or food, with supplementary activities compared to green crops). The core is divided into 2 halves: one, divided into 6 floors, follows the rotation of the external toroids generating conditions of differentiated microgravity; the other fixed to allow you to experience the combined absence of gravity in a single flexible environment for research and production.
5 Toroids
Toroids will have 3 different gravities (Aristarco 100 m / Moon gravity (g / go = 0.16); Galilaei 230 m/ gravity Mars (g / go = 0.37); Teseo 375 m (in the central module) / gravity equal to about 50% of the terrestrial one (g / go = 0.56). The toroids are suitable for housing and support spaces, on 3 levels in the lower part of the toroidal section. The upper part (approx. 50% of the entire section) is intended for green spaces, agriculture and socialization. The maintenance of the structure takes place through a pressurized module that moves on a track placed on the external circumference of the toroids, performing at the same time the function of perimeter connection. Divided in Miranda and Toroids, there will be a food and substance conservation area, such as blood banks for on-board emergencies, special “hospital” and waste disposal systems. Also Manufacturing system area for metal and plastic parts both in additive manufacturing and for chip removal, with obvious need for chip recovery and recycling, large electrical transformers, storage batteries, AD / AC and AC / AD converters, culture and maintenance cells of cyanobacteria are distributed between Miranda and Toroids. The entire system is structured for ensuring and optimized the whole water cycle and ECLSS (Environmental Control and Life Support System). Pressurized modules between Miranda and its Toroids for moving and transporting materials and patients; analogues move on track placed on the external circumference of the toroids, with perimeter connection function ("parallel" of Dedalo) and for internal and external maintenance.
6 Dry Dock
The docking of space vehicles for the transport of goods and people takes place through a docking system placed perpendicularly to the central axis ICARO. A sliding dry dock consisting of two floors equipped for maintenance as well as loading / unloading operations carries out the maintenance. DRY DOCK control room located outside of the hangar (inside Miranda): the monitor window allows the supervision of the operations of docking and maintenance with the aid of AI (artificial intelligence) and AR (augmented reality)
7 Integrated Cycles
• Permanence in space requires the development of a system capable of sustaining life of the inhabitants through a continuous regeneration of primary resources. • It is therefore necessary to implement a closed system from the point of view of matter (but open from that of energy) that reproduces at a reduced scale the cycles on Earth. The bioregenerative systems based on superior plants will contribute to solve these problems. • Plants must be represented by efficient agricultural crops able to provide the crew with a proper diet (in quantity and quality) during long periods. • Such a closed-loop bioregenerative system must contribute to the production of fresh food, oxygen generation and removal of carbon dioxide from indoor air (due to human breathing) through photosynthesis, to water purification through the transpiration process, to reuse of biomass residues, organic waste from processes and physiological wastewater, after adequate treatments, and to the psychological well-being of the crew. • - On the International Space Station (ISS) recycling systems produce 25-30 l/day of water. - on SpaceHub an average water consumption of 50-60 l/day is estimated, 5 l/day of which for drinking and cooking. - maximum possible recycling to minimize the need for supplies from other parts of the cislunar city or in orbit production (e.g. NASA plans to obtain 1 liter of water from 5 kg of rock from asteroids). • The water cycle will be completely closed and all the water on board (humidity in the cabin atmosphere, water used for personal cleaning, urine) will be recovered and purified. • The adoption of a water system with cyanobacteria for protection against cosmic radiation involves the availability of large quantities of water to be recycled with continuity and an environment that can be well integrated with aforementioned other systems.
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PUBLISHED ON 18th August 2022
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