More people living sufficiently good lives is a good thing to bring about. This is supported by the predominant theories of population ethics, which is the field of study that explores the ethics, policies, and comparisons related to the wellbeing of populations that may come about in the future.

In the design of large space habitats (especially those fantastic in scale or technology), the unspoken assumption is that the people who would inhabit them would be practically equivalent to contemporary humans. Considering the temporally distant nature of such structures along with the increasing pace of technological advancement in the areas that may spur human control over our own makeup and evolution, I propose that the condition of the human species at that time may render some of the fundamental assumptions of such habitats irrelevant.

Space is a hostile environment to life as we know it, but with the help of thoughtful design and imagination space can also play host to environments that can expand the mind and spirit. This post explores some of the unique challenges and opportunities faced in the pursuit of creating enriching spaces for humans free of gravity.

The acceleration that gravity induces can be simulated (albeit crudely) by spinning up a rotating shell. On paper, this seems like a convenient 1-1 simulation, but there are several important differences between the two that can effect the experience of any individuals inhabiting them.

Providing adequate radiation shielding for space habitats via bulk material is arguably the most difficult logistical challenge facing designers. In this post I address the question of what kinds of shielding may be appropriate for near-term space habitats.

On the cutting edge of technology and exploration, there are no certainties. All the planning and simulations cannot safeguard against uncertainty. Anomalies and unforeseen circumstances have the potential to throw a wrench into even the most well-planned mission. It is for this reason that the degree to which a habitat can adapt to the needs of the users and the mission becomes valuable unto itself. This adaptation takes many forms, but I’ll focus on those of modularity, flexibility, and interchangeability.

Whether it be the size, population, technology, or any other aspect, the combination of these factors determines in some way the future time period that the design’s construction may be plausible. I have applied these factors to a timeline showing where they might have a chance of appearing in our future. I have broken this timeline into three periods that I view as categorically different from one another. I have chosen to name these time periods the Near Term, the Medium Term, and the Far Term.

Designs, sketches, papers, and theory for space architecture, space habitats, space stations, and more.