This lesson plan by teacher Patrick Young provides a simulated request for proposals as an aid for developing space settlement designs.

The United Nations Space Agency (UNSA) is requesting proposals for the design and construction of an orbital space colony (OSC).

The OSC has three missions:

 
1. To demonstrate that orbital space colonies can be self-sufficient communities which provide residents with a high quality of life.
2. To demonstrate the economic viability of low gravity manufacturing processes.
3. To perform scientific research that can not be duplicated on Earth.

 

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

1. LOCATION

The OSC shall be located in orbit around the Earth or its moon.
 
2. RESIDENTIAL LIVING QUARTERS

The OSC shall provide comfortable living quarters for 1200 permanent residents (of all ages) as well as living quarters for up to 200 visitors. All living areas shall maintain a constant downward acceleration of 0.4 - 0.9 g.

 

3. MANUFACTURING FACILITY

The OSC shall provide a single contiguous volume of 10,000 m3 to be used for low gravity manufacturing operations. The facility shall maintain a constant acceleration of less than 0.05 g. UNSA will provide the manufacturing machinery which will mass 5,000 kg and require 85 kW of electrical power.

 

4. SCIENCE LABORATORIES

The OSC shall provide 4,000 m³of volume to be used for science laboratories. Half of this volume shall maintain a constant acceleration of less than 0.05 g. The remaining volume shall maintain a constant acceleration of 0.4 - 0.9 g. UNSA will provide the laboratory equipment which can be expected to mass 3,000 kg and require 9 kW of electrical power.

 

5. MEDICAL CENTER

The OSC shall provide at least 1,000 m³of volume for medical facilities. The medical center shall contain all equipment necessary to maintain the health of residents and visitors. The medical center shall maintain a constant acceleration of 0.8 - 0.9 g.

 

6. AGRICULTURAL AREAS

The OSC shall provide at least 200,000 m²of area for growing crops. This entire area must receive sufficient sunlight for plant growth. Livestock pens may be used for domesticated animals. The OSC shall be completely self-sufficient in terms of food production.

 

7. ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

The OSC shall maintain the following environmental conditions:
 
• Internal Temperature: 15 to 22 degrees C
• Internal Pressure: Constant at 0.5 to 1.0 atm
The atmosphere shall be maintained free from pollutants. Healthy levels of O₂and CO₂ must be maintained through a regenerative ecosystem including residents, livestock (if any) and agricultural crops.

 

8. WATER PROCESSING

Imports of lunar or cometary water are acceptable but must be minimized. All water used on the OSC shall be recycled to the maximum possible extent.

 

9. FOOD PROCESSING

All food consumed in the OSC shall be processed locally. A healthy diet shall be provided for all residents and visitors. No food imports from Earth will be possible.

 

10. ENERGY PRODUCTION

The OSC shall be self-sufficient in terms of energy production. If fission reactors are used, fuel rods may be imported from Earth. Renewable energy sources are preferred.

 

11. RADIATION SHIELDING

The OSC shall be shielded from cosmic radiation and solar flares. Residents and agricultural crops shall not receive more than 5 rem per year.

 

12. DOCKING FACILITIES

The OSC shall provide facilities for docking at least three spacecraft simultaneously. At least one cargo loading bay shall be provided with a doorway area of 30 m².

 

13. ROTATIONAL PERIOD

The rotational period of the OSC shall not be less than 40 seconds.

 

14. MISCELLANEOUS

The OSC shall provide appropriate space and equipment for the following:
 
• administrative offices
• workshops for manufacturing of locally consumed goods
• shops for retail sales of consumer goods
• warehousing for raw materials and consumer goods
• office space for retail services
• educational facilities for children and adults
• recreation facilities
• chapel for religious services
• machine and electrical shops for equipment repair
• waste disposal systems
• an Operations Center from which OSC functions are monitored and controlled
• a communications center

PROPOSAL FORMAT

• Companies bidding on the OSC contract shall provide a proposal in the following format:

 

• Abstract

Summarizes entire proposal on one page. Gives the OSC a name and explains why that name is appropriate for humanity's first permanent orbital colony.

 

• Location

Explains where the OSC will be located and why. Describes its orbit in quantitative terms (velocity, period, altitude).
• Construction

Explains what structural materials will be used, where they will come from, how they are assembled, and why this approach was chosen.

 

• Structure

Explains the shape of the OSC and why this shape was selected.

 

• Dynamics

Explains, in quantitative terms, the rotation of the OSC, the central force, and the amount of artificial gravity provided. Explains why this rotation was selected.

 

• Radiation Shielding

Explains, in quantitative terms, what shielding is used and why.

 

• Environmental Control

Explain how environmental parameters (temp, air quality, oxygen, etc) are maintained within the OSC.

 

• Manufacturing Facility

Explains the layout of the Manufacturing Facility.

 

• Science Laboratories

Explains the layout of the science laboratories.

 

• Agriculture

Explains the layout of all agricultural areas. Explains which plants and animals have been selected to provide a healthy diet. Addresses how crops will be provided with all elements necessary for their cultivation (sunlight, water, fertilizer, etc). Considers the effects of non-standard gravity and radiation.

 

• Residential Areas

Explain the layout of all residential areas. Explain how space is allotted to each crew member. Explain what a typical home/apartment is like.

 

• Energy Production

Explain, in quantitative terms, how much energy the OSC requires, and how it will be produced.

 

• Miscellaneous

Explain how all other requirements of the General Specifications will be satisfied.

 

ILLUSTRATIONS

• All drawings and illustrations in the proposal shall be on paper which folds down to standard 8.5" x 11" size. Drawings shall include appropriate scales.

REFERENCES

• All sources of information (including internet sources) shall be referenced parenthetically in the text and listed in a bibliography at the end of the proposal.

TECHNOLOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS

• Plans for the OSC construction shall, whenever possible, rely on existing technology. Proposals to use "future technology" should provide evidence that such technology will be available by 2019, when construction is scheduled to begin.

UNSA PROVIDED RESOURCES

• The UNSA lunar mining facilities and launch complex at Clementine Base can be leased to provide raw lunar materials including water and regolith products (sand, bricks, concrete).

 

• If raw materials are mined from near-Earth asteroids, the metals processing facility at the UNSA Space Station Freedom II may be leased to process these materials into finished metal products.

 

• UNSA cargo shuttles may be leased to carry equipment from Earth to the OSC construction site. Due to high launch costs, the use of materials from Earth should be minimized.

RESIDENCY

• All personnel who participate in the design of the OSC shall be required to spend one year on-board the OSC as technical advisors.

Astrid S. Ericson, Admistrator
United Nations Space Agency

Mungo U. Ugalavia
Secretary General of the United Nations 

Space Settlement Home Page

Curator: Al Globus If you find any errors on this page contact Al Globus.

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