posted 06-08-2024 06:03 PM               

New space stations exhibit invites public to find ‘Home Beyond Earth’

A new exhibit about space stations turns the focus from how astronauts live in space to how millions of people may do so in the years to come.

The past, present and future of humans residing in orbit is explored in "Home Beyond Earth," a temporary exhibition now open at The Museum of Flight in Seattle. Spread over three galleries, more than 50 artifacts bring the subject to life, augmented by large digital projections and interactives.

posted 06-11-2024 11:21 PM              

Many of the objects and topics were somewhat familiar to me, but there were things and people featured that I had never heard of before. The museum's collaboration with Boeing and the Smithsonian was evidenced by contractor models and illustrations from the Boeing historical archives and, from the Smithsonian, the end of the actual lopper tool (or maybe it was a functional backup or test article) from Skylab that was used to help free the jammed solar array. I don't recall ever seeing that before. Also on display is Nicole Stott's watercolor painting she created while on the ISS, on loan by the artist.

The things that struck me the most were the beautiful graphics, vintage illustrations, and the multitude of models (period contractor and modern custom built) on display. I left thinking that I would need to return for at least one more visit to absorb all of what is presented.

Here are some of the photos I took while walking through the exhibit...

posted 06-12-2024 12:06 PM               

There are also stickers and a neat "Space Nerd" pin, among other "Home Beyond Earth" logo products.

posted 09-09-2024 01:04 PM               

Museum Opens Space Habitat Pavilion Sept. 28

Space station module lets visitors walk into the future of living in orbit

On Sept. 28, the Museum's Home Beyond Earth exhibit expands its orbit and invites visitors to enter a futuristic life-size space station module—the TESSERAE Space Habitat Pavilion. The 20-feet high dome pavilion is a full-scale mock-up of the TESSERAE self-assembling space habitat designed to sustain and enrich life in orbit. Created in Cambridge, Mass. by Aurelia Institute, the TESSERAE module at the Museum will highlight food cultivation, cooking and the importance of shared meals in maintaining people's well-being in space. This will be the first public exhibition of TESSERAE, which will be open in the Museum's Great Gallery until Jan. 12, 2025.

Above: Visitors inside of the full-scale TESSERAE module. (Aurelia Institute)

"TESSERAE represents a new way of thinking about space habitat design," said Ariel Ekblaw, CEO and Co-Founder of Aurelia Institute. "We're moving beyond early space stations' confined, utilitarian spaces. Our vision is to create expandable, reconfigurable habitats that can grow with the mission needs."

"We're thrilled to have the TESSERAE Pavilion as part of our Home Beyond Earth exhibit and for our visitors to experience this groundbreaking concept at real scale," said Geoff Nunn, Adjunct Curator for Space History and exhibit developer at The Museum of Flight.

TESSERAE Exhibit Details

Visitors to the Pavilion will experience a full-scale, 20-foot by 24-foot mock-up of a TESSERAE module.

Above: The TESSERAE Pavilion showcases the interior of its proposed geodesic spacecraft, designed around the theme of "breaking bread" in space. Interior kitchen elements address the unique design constraints and affordances of "zero gravity" including an aeroponics garden and methods of holding ingredients. (Aurelia Institute)

TESSERAE (Tessellated Electromagnetic Space Structures for the Exploration of Reconfigurable, Adaptive Environments) is a self-assembling space habitat concept designed to expand living space in orbit. The structure consists of electromagnetically connected hexagonal and pentagonal tiles that can be flat-packed for launch and autonomously assembled in space. The TESSERAE platform is designed to be modular and customizable, allowing for interior living space optimized for comfort and community rather than basic survival.

"Larger and more adaptable environments will support a broader range of scientific and commercial activities and provide the comforts of home, fostering long-term human presence in space," said Aurelia Institute CEO Ariel Ekblaw. "These elements will be essential as the human population working and living in space becomes more diverse and expansive."

The concept of breaking bread in space is central to the exhibit, and Aurelia Institute has designed specific features highlighting the importance of food and communal dining in maintaining people's well-being in space. One of these is the "Green Vault," an aeroponics system for growing fresh produce in microgravity, a potential solution for future space inhabitants to cultivate their own food. Visitors can also observe a functional zero-gravity sous vide cooker and fermentation orbs showcasing approaches to nutritious and flavorful food prep in weightless environments.

Above: The TESSERAE Pavilion showcases the interior of its proposed geodesic spacecraft, designed around the theme of "breaking bread" in space. Green-tinged 'bubble' chambers surround a view of Earth from orbit, meant to house algae and cyanobacteria as part of habitat life support systems. (Aurelia Institute)

Beyond the food-related features, TESSERAE showcases other crucial aspects of space living. Visitors will see storage solutions inspired by nature. Algae-filled panels that look like stained glass demonstrate a potential method for generating breathable air. And to address moving and even relaxing in zero gravity, sea anemone-inspired inflatables and hand-knotted nets provide both functional and aesthetically pleasing solutions for navigation within the habitat.

Aurelia Institute is a nonprofit space architecture R&D lab, education and outreach center, and policy hub dedicated to building humanity's future in space.