International Space Station and Space Exploration

The paper presents, discusses and uses fundamental constraints governing long-term evolutionary growth of habitable infrastructure in low Earth orbit. The scope spans the full range of two orthogonal design parameters: (1) scale – from spacecraft system to urban assemblage; and (2) technological maturity – from contemporary, pre-integrated modules to eventual, space-manufactured constructions. The constraints accommodate five vital design drivers: (1) inescapable realities of orbital space flight, including orbital mechanics, energy transfer, and operations proximity; (2) state-of-practice (e.g. International Space Station), and state-of-art (e.g. TransHab) system designs; (3) anticipated requirements for new technology and system development; (4) invariant and predictable human-environment requirements, including proximity relationships, orientation, view, artificial weight and safety; (5) architectural scale, from shelter to megalopolis. These constraints are used to craft an integrated design parti, which is a useful template for viable configurations for Earth orbital architecture and urbanism