Space in Schools
Taking students into the world of Design for Human Habitation
There is a mystique about space travel that has always attracted the attention of humans. Exploring the unknown, being the first, one only has to look into the night sky to be mesmerised.
Since we first stepped foot on the moon in 1969, the desire to explore even further into the universe has only grown. To leap into space travel, we need to be prepared to step into a dangerous and complex environment. Designing for human habitation in these hazardous environments offers students a unique opportunity to explore complex design environments.
Space travellers will be asking some of the same questions we ask ourselves before any journey:
- What should we take?
- What will we wear?
- What will our mode of transport be?
- And how much energy will we need to make the journey?
But in Space, the answers to these questions can be much more complex.
- The room we have available is limited.
- Everything we take must have multiple uses.
- They will face extremes of weather.
- Excess weight will influence how much energy we will consume and if we can make it back.
The Design Challenges
Space in Schools is a set of three design challenges that are an exciting and fun learning environment for students.
- Designing a Biomedical Space Hub on Mars (BSH).
- Design of a Mars Transport Vehicle (MTV).
- Design of a Space Loading Dock (SLD).
Students are encouraged to go beyond the minimum, be creative and innovative to explore different design options. Some of the problem’s students will need to resolve will combine challenges faced by engineers every day.
A key outcome for SPACE in Schools is to link the design skills required for space travel with careers available to students in Industry today, helping students understand how their skills and passions can influence their career journey.
To learn more about the three design challenges, click the button below.
real life application
Design for human habitation and minimising Space is nothing new. Success in many industries is dependent on how responsive we are to these issues. The aerospace, automotive and shipbuilding industries are just a couple of examples where design for human habitation is critical.
Design for Space has always pushed engineering to the limit. Yet, it has been the birthplace of technologies that will continue to change our lives, from computers to carbon fibre, communication and medicine.
It is applying space technology to everyday life that continues to make the world a better place.
