Guest:  Melodie Yashar:  Topics;  Space Architecture, space design for future and visionary lunar and Mars habitats, 3D habitat printing, inflatable structures, inspirational & visionary projects, timelines and more.

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We welcomed Melodie Yashar of Space Exploration Architecture (SEArch+) to this one segment 74 minute discussion regarding lunar and Martian 3D printed habitat design.  To start our discussion, I asked Melodie to introduce us to Space Exploration Architecture and her interest in space architecture.  In addition, we were constantly referring to their company website for photos and information regarding their Mars and lunar design awards.  I suggest you also checkout their site, especially during this program.  See it at http://www.spacexarch.com.  Note that much of what our guest talked about regarding their designs were concept designs for NASA competitions.  As we learned, an actual Mars or lunar habitat might differ considerably for these design concepts.  In fact, much of our discussion focused on design concepts and not necessarily what would actually be deployed on the surface of a celestial body.

Program and contest requirements focused on autonomous assembly and 3D printing.  Our guest spent considerable time talking about both but especially about the challenges regarding autonomous construction, even on Earth.  Don't miss this discussion.  One topic we spent much time on was the collaboration topic, especially with other disciplines such as aerospace medicine, systems engineering, and the industrial designers.  Listen to how our guest described the challenges, the progress made so far in such collaborations, what was needed for the future.

We had several email questions and a few phone calls during the program.  Joe in Tucson wanted to know about habitats for commercial space settlement.  In response, our guest talked about their work with Marshall on the NASA IMPACT project plus commercial organizations.  She described the process for arriving at their designs on the website and then again  mentioned that designs were to be visionary and inspirational, not so much what would be deployed to Mars or the Moon.  Email questions came in regarding market timing for space architecture and consulting business activities.  Our guest suggested these activities would be a long time in developing, perhaps ten years  out.  Make sure you hear all of what she had to say on this subject in response to the market timing question.

Our guest went into detail regarding their design awards which are on their website, Mars Ice House and Mars X.  A listener asked if those designs could even be built on Earth.  Once again she talked about autonomous construction challenges.  She also talked about space construction requirements for versatility, horizontal structures, making walls, materials, and more.  A listener asked her about incorporating artificial gravity into their space hab designs. 

Melodie talked about the draw to paper process with the incorporation of details for a 3D model.  She then mentioned using BIM- Business Information Modeling which she explained.  ISRU was mentioned and was a key ingredient in their design process and building out on the Mars or Moon surface.

Marshall called to talk about issues with the ISS, specifically exercising.  He wanted to know how her designs incorporated being able to exercise to mitigate microgravity.  This turned out to be a rather detailed discussion so don't miss a word of it.  As part of her response, Melodie talked about teaching an upcoming class at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA where she felt sure issues of artificial gravity and radiation protection would come in the classroom.

Dr. Doug called and took us to almost the end of the program.  He wanted to bring out the fact that autonomous construction and 3D printing was not the best way or the most efficient way to begin habitat living on the Moon or Mars. He also wanted to know why there was more of an emphasis on Mars rather than the Moon.  Doug and Melodie has a terrific discussion around these points. Doug was advocating inflatable structures.  Our guest did not disagree with him but said the design contests with NASA required 3D printing and autonomous construction and were purposed to be both visionary and inspirational.  Melodie also told Doug that there was a 100% use requirement for ISRU.  Be sure to hear all of their discussion. 

Melodie offered us concluding comments, talked about the Space Architecture Technical Committee plus with Doug she also talked about www.spacearchitect.org. 

Please post your comments/questions for Melodie Yashar on our blog for this program.  You can reach out guest through me or her website per the above URL.