
A BRIEF HISTORY OF
SPACE ARCHITECTURE
What sets humans apart from other species is our insatiable curiosity and relentless drive to conquer the impossible. Having explored Earth's every nook and cranny, our next frontier is space, where we aim to establish a new home to ensure our survival, much like the dinosaurs might have dreamed. Space architecture, the art of designing livable spaces beyond our planet, is a fascinating field that blends physiology, psychology, sociology, architecture, and engineering. The greatest challenge for space architects is the hostile environment of outer space, replete with cosmic radiation and extreme weather conditions, rendering it uninhabitable.
It's been over half a century since we first set foot on the moon, and since then, we've sent a whopping 8,900 satellites into space for closer observation. In recent decades, unmanned robots have landed on Mars in search of life, marking a new era in our exploration of the cosmos. Space architecture has evolved significantly, progressing from designing rocket capsules and space shuttles to crafting habitable capsules and more. Among its greatest achievements is the International Space Station (ISS), where astronauts have lived for almost two years, conducting groundbreaking research while orbiting Earth.
1865
From Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne
1952
Concept- Spinning Space Station by Wernher von Braun
1964
Voskhod Spacecraft by Soviet Space Program
1967-71
Soyuz 1 & Soyuz 2 by Soviet Space Program
1981-2011
Space Shuttle Program by NASA
1997
Concept- TransHab by Constance Adams & NASA
2013
Concept- Nautilus by Bigelow Aerospace
2016
Prototype- BEAM by Bigelow Aerospace + NASA
1903
Concept- Space Elevators by K. Tsiolkovsky
1960
Goodyear Space Station by GAC
1966-74
Apollo Space Program by NASA
1973
Window on US Space Station Skylab by Raymond Loewy
1986
Mir Space Station by Soviet Space Program
1998
International Space Station by
NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA, CSA
2015
Concept- Mars Ice House by SEArch
2018
Concept- Marsha by AI Spacefactory + NASA
2019
Concept- Moon Village by SOM+ ESA+ MIT
2020
Concept- Lunark by SAGA Space Architects
2021
Mars Dune Alpha by BIG + ICON