The Single Habitat Module Concept for Exploration

Discipline: Environmental Control/Life Support
In early 2010, NASA was directed to address changes in exploration destinations, consider using new technologies, and develop new capabilities to support space exploration. Considering the proposed new technologies and capabilities that NASA was directed to pursue, the Single Habitat Module (SHM) concept was developed for a more streamlined approach to the infrastructure and conduct of exploration missions. The SHM concept combines many of the new promising technologies with a central concept of mission architectures that use a single habitat module for all phases of an exploration mission. Integrating mission elements near Earth and fully fueling them before departure makes it possible to use a single habitat both in transit to an exploration destination and while studying the destination. The concept employs the capability to return the habitat and interplanetary propulsion system to Earth’s vicinity so that those elements can be reused on subsequent exploration missions. During this presentation, Joe Chambliss described the SHM concept and the advantages it provides to accomplish exploration objectives.