Design concepts for interior utility of space station crew areas are offered. Planning of a living environment that maintains elements of humanity is stressed

Skolnick, S.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

lV85-29562 "
February 28, 1984
SOME IDEAS AND QUESTIONS REGARDING SPACE STATION DSSIGN
FOR HUMAN USE !
Sharon Skolnick, B.I.D., M.Ed.
As a designer and writer, I appreciate the creative thinking of the late
Buckminster Fuller, who once referred to the earth as 'a spacesl.ip on a l
gravity leash.' When astronaut Bruce McCandless recently separated from his |
umbilical cord and floated free, it seemed like a birth-- as though the
gravity leash had been dropped and a new, human planet had been born.
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If the earth is a spaceship, we are all astronauts. Fragile, tough, _t
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i self-regulating and cyclically operating, we jump on and off of our planet all
of the time, without needing to be rooted like plants. But too many people ' !
forget how interwoven with earth we are, how consistently we need net only i
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food, warmth and a roof, but nurturing, meaning, spiritual sustenance, love, _.
and human touch-- and humor,
J
What has struck me over and over when I hear reports from the scientistt3
and pilots who have reached outer space is the laughtez: the jokes these
people crack, and the stunned, poetic reaction to the beauty they see, the
whole earth in space. And how philosophical and inspired many of them becoE_e.
This in spite of living in cramped tin cans with levers and buttons Ind
flashing lights.
To optimize a long term outer space environment, I think we need to
research and draw upon what is really human and humane; what individual i
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Raymond Loewy, William Snaith Associates, Industrial Designers in New York
City. I was _ e only worn on the product design team. Though the others may
I have seen my colorful banners, multilevel strap-in tables, hanging plants and
grow-lights as "feminine" and "untechnical", I am a female human and I
addressed my design skills and analytical thought to the humanity of the
i passengers, the spirit of fun and play in a new kind of space. It is exciting
to be able to present the idea now, 15 years later, when humanism and high
tech are starting to interface.L
Just because we are entering the realm of science fiction doesn't mean we
need to stick with set designs, or send people out to live in a Greyhound bus
; station. On the other hand, the appointunents of a luxury ocean liner, all
polished woods and gleaming brass and palm trees, may be inappropriate wheret.
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minimal weight has to do maximtu_work.
I think we need nests in the trees for a high flyers: private organic
"" spaces if the outer shell is vast and cylindrical and people are floating; or
else group gathering areas of larqe dimensions if the general milieu is tight
little spaces. We need touches of whimsy, of softness, and lots of places for
the individual to put or choose _rsonal objects and images, to make the
station homey for that person.
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: The human animal is not a machine. Maybe we need to study the animals'
environments too.
Som specific suggestions my friends and I have come up with to humanize
a space environment includsz
-- _atural, not plastic, materials. Natural fabrics on the walls, with hanks i
of subtly colored lights the passenger can change at will, since color is so
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persons require and desire to keep them healthy, happy, productive and secure.
What _olors, shapes, spaces, what kinds of order or clutter make us feel good,
therefore becoming more stable, optimistic and efficient.
I believe two places to look for applicable answers are the indigenous
cultures of planet earth, shelter design and living patterns of native people:
f' Plains and Southwest Indians, nomadic Semitics and Asians, and Polynesian
sailors who spent long months on the high seas with their families, their
thatched shelters, their domestic animals and some coconut trees.
That's one place to look, because people who can make a human environment
from available materials in an economic, ergonom/c way, while at the same time
keeping their spiritual energies focused through meaningful ritual and
reverence, have much to teach the high tech world.
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The other place with some answe r" may be the prisons. What does not make )
for a human environment? What is oppressive, dulling, psychologically
upsetting of balance, dehumanizing? How to avoid those traps on a minl-planet
orbiting in space a_ay let us know, ultimately, how to stop torturing human
beings in various kinds of institutions on earth. It looks like environmental
research for space could have some global repercussions as well, if it could
be approached from an ethically high place,
, Obvloubly the answers are not all going to come from the engineers and
ergonomics experts and corporate white males over 50, or we wouldn't be here
today.
When X designed a three-dlmensional weightless cafeteria for the space
station set to go into orbit in 1985, the year was 1969 and the place was
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psychologically important for peace of mind. Pattern templates to create
light patnerns at will.
-- A lot of plant material and grow-lights, some plants growing in earth, so
the smell and feel of earth is present. A few uncaged, well-behaved animals,
shuttle-pets: birds; dogs; cats; turtles; fish...
-- Use of natural wood for built-ln £urnishings.
J
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-- Muted, rear screen still-picture projection from a large library of
paintings, textiles, sculptures and photographs, chosen by the individual or
group to express current interests, ease tensions and share cultural images of
personal value. _le person might need to see a beach, another a Manhattan
urbanscape, while a third might feel good in the presence of a punk painting
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or old masterpiece, v
-- A huge rear screen hemisphJre might be used for total environmental
effectz redwood forest or desert, as well as for movies, video and
educational t.mages for group conferences. L
-- Ultimately, I can see the space station becoming its own little planet,
with green plants growing on the outside surface under a greenhouse-llke
atmospheric outer shell. Why not grow food locally?
These little offshoots of earth could be wonderful, healthful spas for
healing of mind/body/apirlt as well am coNmercial and scientific pursuits. To
achieve and sustain that kind of reality, Z think the almm not only have to be
of the highest human kind, but the accesaabillty of the station needs to be
universal as well. This should not be • haven for the elite, but should be •
' sanctuary and thrill for all kinds of peoples women, men, elders, kids, the
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handicapped, all cultures, all colors, all opinions.
That's what earth is, after all-- or could be.
I hope your consultants are indigenous people and healers and artists,
people with a respect for nature's cycles and ancient humai_ wisdom, This is a
great opportunity to create a truly wholistlc place, the fruit o[ global
knowledge of what is good for human beings gathered in one revolving, evolving
sphere. This is a great chance. I hope you take advantage of it, and I thank
you for hearing my thoughts.
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OR4I._INALPAGE IS"
OF POOR QUALIT'/
OF POOr_ QUALITY
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, Axial workchamber experimentfiC,lity f //////_l _" /_'_3 f %_k % it _, docking , .............
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Tracklngtelescopei kulttspertral scanner _ Ihna' '
. Infr-red _ / _ Alrlock
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Earth observation Solar observatory
• electnintcs andcontrol display pinel Structural _ranai tion
snctlon HatJ_es
: Flsure 2-2.- Cutaway view o£ modules and launch conftsuratton.
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tOF POOR QUALFi'Y
Stowage Ceilingegress
lockers opening Window
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outboard #'_ _,_ _. i--@1
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). _ _ Sleep compartment I_ __!_
_: I l_J_,,J-.,'_ Off duty Ik _ Entrance \
. / ltF_ffJI1 ,q,ip,,entF_X.Z::ET__.-r -
._:'i _" _ V_ Lockers curtain
W [J Wardroomplanview
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: Figure 10-4.- Wardroom arrangement.
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Figure 10-7.- Sleep cmapartment arrangement.
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Some ideas and questions regarding space station design for human use

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