Inflatable core orbital construction method and space station

Details Inflatable core orbital construction method and space station Inflatable core orbital construction method and space station

1985-08-12

1988-03-15

Peters, Jr., Joseph F.

Aeronautics and astronautics

Spacecraft

Reusable or returnable

244158R, 52 2, B64G 112

Patent

active

047307978

ABSTRACT:
An economical method for constructing large continuous-walled structures in orbit is presented. In this method a lightweight, non-elastic, topologically closed inflatable surface with thin flexible walls is transported to orbit where it is inflated to form a semi-rigid surface. This inflated surface is then used as a guide for constructing the hull of the structure by wrapping the surface with long sheets of high strength material until the desired wall thickness and rigidity is obtained. The wrapping process is accomplished automatically by a wrapping machine. Since the inflatable surface can be packaged into a small volume, and since the sheets of wrapping material can be rolled into spools with very high packing density, it is possible to construct large continuous-walled pressurized structures in orbit using robotics with relatively few Shuttle flights. The method is used to construct a large permanently manned orbiting space station that provides an artificial gravity environment for the living quarters and connecting variable gravity environments for research and materials processing. The basic structural design of the space station consists of a rotating torus with three connecting spoke cylinders and two Earth-fixed column cylinders extending along the rotation axis mounted on each side of the torus' hub.

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patent: 3144219 (1964-08-01), Schnitzer
patent: 3300162 (1967-01-01), Maynard et al.
patent: 3405886 (1968-10-01), Gosnell et al.
patent: 3508270 (1970-04-01), Cook
patent: 3855027 (1974-12-01), Erdmann et al.
patent: 4050972 (1977-09-01), Cardinal, Jr.
"Exploring Papier Mache", by Victoria Bedford Belts, p. 84.

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