Andy Weir | Broadway Books, 2014 | Book
Before we started NASA’s Centennial 3D printing competition, I gave each of my team members a copy of this book. Andy Weir’s novel is very factual and sticks extremely closely to what is scientifically possible. The book was a great reminder that as architects we can indeed imagine and design future space habitats that are scientifically accurate without having to go into wild science fiction references.
Raymond Loewy | Overlook Books, 1995 | Book
Raymond Loewy was one of the most important industrial designers of the 20th century. He was the first major industrial designer to be involved with NASA’s space program and worked on the design of Skylab where he famously proposed a window and a table in the space station. These were elements that the NASA engineers not deemed to be necessary on a space ship. Raymond Loewy brought a human perspective into the design of space stations.
Peter Eckart | McGraw-Hill Primis Custom Publishing, 1999 | Book
If you are ever thinking to design anything on the moon, this book will become your bible. Although the subject is very technical it is extremely clearly written so that non space engineers such as designers and architects can get their head around the complex and extreme environment of the moon.
S. Wilkinson, J. Musil;, J. Dierckx, I. Gallou, X. De Kestelier. | Acta Futura, 2016 | Article
This paper gives a detailed perspective on the thinking that went on behind the design of the Mars Habitat. I think it is important to mention that throughout the design we were consulted by space robotic specialists Astrobotic, Prof. Penelope Boston at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, and John Eager of the British Antarctic Survey.
A. Scott Howe | American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics, 2009 | Book
Scott Howe is probably one of the only people that can really call himself a space architect, as he has a Phd in both architecture and engineering. If you are interested in space architecture, this is probably the first book you should grab.