Theoretical Space Station Design
Theoretical Space Station Design
(OP)
Hello,
I am hoping to get some feedback from the engineering community on some design ideas. I am putting together some theoretical designs for a futuristic space station. The design isn't for engineering purposes (obviously), but it is to showcase the station in a high quality render. I am going to be using Maya to create and texturize the models and Unreal Engine 4 to put the render together. While the design will be science fiction in nature, I still want it to be based on some elements of reality. Typically if your designs are based on real world reference they turn out better.
Some thought provoking questions I have are:
What energy source does the station run on (can be theoretical)?
What back-up energy sources can be used if the main source fails?
How does the station produce a renewable source of oxygen, gravity and simulate an earth like atmosphere?
How would the station handle debris in Space? This would be problemtic (and I imagine that it is) because anything of proportional size could easily destroy structure.
I am just trying to get some good ideas that will impact my design. Thanks for any input.
I am hoping to get some feedback from the engineering community on some design ideas. I am putting together some theoretical designs for a futuristic space station. The design isn't for engineering purposes (obviously), but it is to showcase the station in a high quality render. I am going to be using Maya to create and texturize the models and Unreal Engine 4 to put the render together. While the design will be science fiction in nature, I still want it to be based on some elements of reality. Typically if your designs are based on real world reference they turn out better.
Some thought provoking questions I have are:
What energy source does the station run on (can be theoretical)?
What back-up energy sources can be used if the main source fails?
How does the station produce a renewable source of oxygen, gravity and simulate an earth like atmosphere?
How would the station handle debris in Space? This would be problemtic (and I imagine that it is) because anything of proportional size could easily destroy structure.
I am just trying to get some good ideas that will impact my design. Thanks for any input.





RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
Batteries, chemical energy + fuel cells...
Magnets, vacuum, electrostatic booties....
Active armor with lasers and appropriate sensors, big balls of kevlar fiber padding or similar in the same orbit soaking up debris. conventional shielding
Don't forget your giant gyroscopes or other ways of controlling orientation.
Do some googling, this arguably isn't really the place for these questions and site management may delete this thread.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
back-up ... batteries for very short term (hours), more solar cells, possibly fuel cells, for longer term
environment ... water is the key ... electrolysis to produce fuel (H2) and O2 ,
having nothing in space creates problems ...
food ... hydroponics ?
water ? ... resource mining (ice) from the moon ?
building stuff ... resource mining from the moon ? "stuff" from earth ?, recycling supply ships ??
gravity ... rotating, like in 2001 ?
debris ... yes a problem, close on "infinite" ballistic energy ... possibly an application of some currently earth based ballistic missile defense systems ? (ie mounted on your space station ?) maybe a garbage clean-up ??
another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
Previous replies touch on key constraints that I'll expand upon: Where is this station, where did it come from, what is its role, who is on board, and what kind of "story" is set on it. Answer each question and then follow those facts to find the resources that will or will not be found there. You aren't going to need a fusion reactor if the station uses an electromagnetic induction capture in Jupiter's magnetic fields. If it spins for gravity (aka vonBraun wheel) then it's not a skinny cylinder!
STF
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
If this is basically an art project that you want to represent what might be possible with future space technology, then my vote is for a space station connected to a space tether/elevator. The space elevator would resolve most of the issues noted. Re-supply of food, water, oxygen, spare parts, etc could be performed on-demand using the space elevator. Space station personnel could travel back to Earth's surface on a regular basis to recover from the effects of no/low gravity. A space station located around 22k miles up would be clear of the large amount of man-made debris in low earth orbit, but would still need some form of impact protection from deep space objects traveling at high velocity. Of course there is also the issue of protecting the tether itself from high velocity debris impacts along most of its 60k+ mile length. Since there is no real limit to the number of payloads used to construct the station, the size of the finished station can be substantially larger than current designs like the ISS.
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
better would be to have the station close to the tether, so the two weren't coupled.
and if the space elevator counter-weight was "up-orbit" (the space version of upstream ?) then it'd act as a shield for the station ...
another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
I am thinking nuclear power is the way to go, because of the life span of a nuclear reactor is arguably the best reason to use it. At least it should be the main source of power. Certainly solar energy can be utilized to create energy reserves. Batteries can work too.
Generally speaking, how exactly would you determine the amount of force a piece of load bearing structure would have to support in a zero gravity enviornment? Wouldn't this be relative to the amount of mass of the closest body nearby? If that was the case, then would there be any load whatsoever to support structurally?
Maybe the only force to support structurally would be the centrifugal force produced by the stations rotation. There is also pressurization to consider. The station as whole will be broken down into compartments, to better support oxygen pressurization and control. I am not sure how this would affect design.
Anyway, like I said, this is just to showcase a futuristic design. However, all of these considerations will ultimately influence how it is put together.
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
The Space Elevator is an understood concept, and understood to be fricking difficult (and expensive) to do (on a par with a Fusion power station).
A zero g environment doesn't mean zero load. We can be weightless but if we push against something then there's a force. and as you say atmospheric environment.
another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
other loads ...
thermal effects
another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
Not so long ago a plane the size of an A380 would have been considered "lunacy".
Conceptually you could mine material on the moon, maybe produce finished structural elements, which you'd then launch (or maybe use a lunar space elevator, which is much easier than a terrestrial one) to your station. You could have testing machines (on the moon or in orbit) to prove the components.
another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
When I put on my Asimov glasses, yes, I could see that happening, but the reality is that the OP is basically talking about creating a cartoon, albeit, highly detailed and rendered, but not actual flight hardware. We can just barely manage to sustain a handful of astronauts in permanent orbit as it is
TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
Before you consider using on-orbit manufacturing you have to develop the system. ie ...
1) a permanent (or very long term) lunar habitat,
2) either precursor development of in situ manufacturing, or develop after initial moon base.
we've also talked about a space elevator ... certainly several decades in the future.
i've talked about in situ resource creation ... getting O2 and H2 from ice on the moon.
and to think a huge issue is space junk ! as well as meteorites.
another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
Being in space oxidization of the metals will be a non issue (assuming fairly high orbit) so you'll be able do 'fdm' using metallic material.
Problem solved.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design
RE: Theoretical Space Station Design