Orbital Habitat Schematics

dscheidt · 04-13-2007, 11:17 AM

I don't have any orbital layouts, but I'll give you some guidance on how they're likely to get laid out.

For a cylindrical habitat, spun along the long axis:

Living space will be on the outside, where the apparent gravity is highest. Farms will be here, too, as they can use the sunlight. Next in will be working space, for stuff that doesn't need to be done in microgravity, shops, offices, some manufacturing type stuff. engineering space -- reactors, life support, etc will be in the center. So will the storm shelter, which could double as a zero-g gym or auditorium. Docs will be on one or both ends, in the center.

For a sphere: Remember that there's only apparent gravity near the equator. The layout will be much the same, with farms moved out to areas along the skin, away from the equator. Depending on what's there, and how many people there may be lots of empty, open space. Building walls is expensive, and unnecessary if it's just empty.

A torus will have living space on the outer skin, with the farms on the sun side of the top. Engineering space will be in the central hub, mostly.

04-13-2007, 11:17 AM	#10
dscheidt Join Date: Feb 2007	Re: Orbital Habitat Schematics I don't have any orbital layouts, but I'll give you some guidance on how they're likely to get laid out. For a cylindrical habitat, spun along the long axis: Living space will be on the outside, where the apparent gravity is highest. Farms will be here, too, as they can use the sunlight. Next in will be working space, for stuff that doesn't need to be done in microgravity, shops, offices, some manufacturing type stuff. engineering space -- reactors, life support, etc will be in the center. So will the storm shelter, which could double as a zero-g gym or auditorium. Docs will be on one or both ends, in the center. For a sphere: Remember that there's only apparent gravity near the equator. The layout will be much the same, with farms moved out to areas along the skin, away from the equator. Depending on what's there, and how many people there may be lots of empty, open space. Building walls is expensive, and unnecessary if it's just empty. A torus will have living space on the outer skin, with the farms on the sun side of the top. Engineering space will be in the central hub, mostly.