The recording of the “Seafloor Habitat 2.0 – Ignition Con” is edited and online, belated endorsed as an activity of the United Nations Ocean Decade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhfShKtI66A
Space & Hydrospace
“Now you think, that by the very nature, by definition the bottom of the ocean and outer space must be as far apart as they can possibly be, and yet the fact is, that the commonality of the equipment we use and the problems, that we face are almost identical.” Dr. Phil Nuytten, TEDx West Vancouver, 2016.
#underwaterhabitat #seafloorhabitat #aquanaut
Undersea Station: Data Processing
(Updated 15.01.2021 – complete re-edit of chapter; updated concept map) The Digital Data Processing of the station will be of major importance. Beside the conventional functions of the IT systems we should use the opportunity to establish a completely new approach concerning the User Interface (UI) and the system’s interaction with the aquanauts.
Habitat Greenhouse
Is there a way to grow kitchen plants inside an underwater habitat? Can we build cubicle cells for that purpose or should we use off-the-shelf products like Plantcube, an indoor greenhouse?
Habitat Entrance
(Updated 29.11.2020; re-edit of the hatches chapter) Surely one of the most complicated area of an underwater structure for human occupation is the habitat entrance. It is the local water-air interface, vulnerable to changes in pressure by tidal movements on the surface of the sea; its hatches have to bare potential pressure differences between the habitat interior and the surrounding water; no object that is only a little bigger than the greatest diameter of the entrance can be brought into the habitat. It is constantly wet and humid and the only gateway for medical assistance. We divided it into the following sections:
- Trunk
- Underwater Acess Space
- External Hatches
- Moonpool
- Wet Room
- Other General Considerations
Our extensive analysis and proposals are part of the design manual.
Internal Doors and Hatches
This section describes the necessary design of internal doors in an underwater habitat. Doors separate functional areas or modules of the habitat. This chapter was divided into the following sections:
- Types of hatch or door and its use
- Opening size and shape of hatch or doorway
- Operations
- Location
Our extensive analysis and proposals are part of the design manual.
Undersea Station Draft No.5: Hangar II
(Update 24.11.2020: added possible serial production) This section is about Draft No.5 of the CalamarPark underwater habitat, a hangar type module with right angular docking keys. Having a look at the evaluation list ‘General Considerations‘ it seems like the ideal shape for the undersea station.
Housekeeping
Housekeeping in an underwater habitat is a crucial part of habitability. It plays a primary role in maintaining the cleanliness of the habitat and thus the crew’s health and safety, which will consequently boost their morale, comfort, and productivity.
This chapter is divided into the following sections:
- General Considerations
- Habitat Specific Risk Areas
- Contamination Sources
- Housekeeping Tools
- Housekeeping Minimization through System Design
- Past and Present Housekeeping in On-Orbit Operations
Our extensive analysis and proposals are part of the design manual.
Entry image: Rlistmedia, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
ESA Qualification
We are very happy that our proposal of an European Underwater Research Center has been qualified today by ESA to be presented for discussion and vote. So there is a realistic chance for funding of a detailed feasibility process leading to the construction of the first module(s).
Recreation
(updated 15.09.2020: added adaptations from the NASA Human Integration Handbook) Recreation is an important consideration for maintaining high morale, psychological and physiological health in an underwater habitat, especially for long durations. This section provides guidelines for recreational activities.
Our extensive analysis and proposals are part of the design manual.