Space Station Modules require rockets with large payload area to be deployed to orbit. There are alternative design proposals like inflatable modules. I personally do not find the inflatable modules that safe and practical. I came up with another idea.
I propose the space station module to be foldable like an umbrella. Once mechanically unfolded it would form a big cylinder like a classical space station module. It would have a small latch on its end. Inside the module would be vacuum. The outer wall of the cylinder would be a very thin foldable material composed of two layers. There would be a gap between these layers. This gap would then be filled by a special filler in orbit. I got my inspiration from Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (Ytong) and polyurethane foam.
The wall of the foldable space module will be filled by a mixture of molten lead and graphene foamed by Helium. I chose Lead due to its ability to shield space radiation and low melting point; Graphene for its light weight and strength. Helium is readily available on the second stage of the rocket used to pressurize the propellent tanks, it is also light weight and inert. The outer wall of the space module would be a UV degradable black material. This would keep the molten filler from freezing before the filling process is completed. Once the process is complete, the dark layer would degrade and yield a much lighter shell color for the module.
As a result, a large space module with protective wall can be built in space from a foldable module and a foaming filler. This design requires multiple launches and space rendezvous for completion. The internals of the module would be deployed separately and the latch would be closed. Then the module would be filled with required gases for human habitation.
No comments :
Post a Comment