Page 13 - 19BAR0007

1. INTRODUCTION

We Homo sapiens came into existence about 300,000 years ago. In the time we spent here on
Earth, we started creating architecture to tame harsh environments to represent our aspirational,

psychological, physical and sociological needs. Now, in the last hundredth of a percent of our
existence, we have begun to colonize areas like the arctic, the air, sea and the space that are

completely alien to our existence and beginnings. Architecture like civilization was born in
Thesis Report V-SPARC VIT
humans. Since then, there have been several advancements and modifications in human
knowledge and comprehension that have an impact on architecture.

As quoted by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky

“Earth is the cradle of humanity, but mankind can’t stay in the cradle forever”

Space architecture is a visionary and interdisciplinary field that addresses the unique challenges

of designing habitats and structures for human life and work in outer space. The mission
statement for space architecture was quoted by American Institute of Aeronautics and

Astronautics (AIAA) in 2002. Unlike traditional architecture, architecture in space must

contend with the challenges possessed by space. It not only includes built environment and
spacecrafts but also includes other disciplines such as psychology, physiology, etc. Space

architecture must contend with the absence of gravity, extreme temperatures, radiation where
everything is completely different from earth’s conditions. Understanding human factors is

paramount in space architecture. Psychosocial considerations, such as the psychological well-
being of astronauts in confined spaces and the physiological effects of prolonged space travel,

guide the design process. As humanity's exploration of space expands, space architecture will

continue to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of extraterrestrial habitation. It is a field
that combines creativity, engineering, and scientific knowledge to envision and create living

and working spaces beyond the confines of our home planet. Moon is the treasure trove of
science, it provides opportunities to learn about earth, sun and the solar system. Due to its

proximity to earth, moon acts as a pitstop for human exploration beyond our known
dimensions. It is a world equivalent to an entire continent that human feet have touched only a

few times. Establishing habitats on the lunar surface allows for continuous research and aid for

further exploration in outer space. It is a stepping stone for further space exploration, the moon
serves as a platform for testing technologies essential for deeper space missions. Architecture
1