초록 ▼

A modular human habitat simulator for providing an environment on Earth that approximates, in a controlled test situation, a number of conditions expected to exist when an inflatable modular habitat is deployed into Earth orbit. The simulator has a housing with a rigid wall defining an internal volu

A modular human habitat simulator for providing an environment on Earth that approximates, in a controlled test situation, a number of conditions expected to exist when an inflatable modular habitat is deployed into Earth orbit. The simulator has a housing with a rigid wall defining an internal volume, a longitudinal axis, a first and second opposing openings along the longitudinal axis, the rigid wall having an exterior surface, and an interior surface where the interior surface is generally the shape of an interior surface of a deployed inflatable shell of a modular human habitat, and the internal volume is substantially that of a deployed inflatable modular human habitat volume.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A modular human habitat simulator comprising: a housing having a rigid wall defining an internal volume, a longitudinal axis, a first opening and second opening being opposed along the longitudinal axis, an external surface, and the rigid wall having an interior surface of ge

What is claimed is: 1. A modular human habitat simulator comprising: a housing having a rigid wall defining an internal volume, a longitudinal axis, a first opening and second opening being opposed along the longitudinal axis, an external surface, and the rigid wall having an interior surface of generally the shape of a deployed inflatable shell internal surface of a modular human habitat, and the internal volume being substantially that of a deployed inflatable modular human habitat volume; a first distal enclosure having a first end and a second end being opposed along a longitudinal axis, a first aperture on the first end and a second aperture on the second end forming a passage therethrough, and the first distal enclosure is connected to the housing such that the passage aligns with the first opening of the housing thereby providing access to the internal volume; and a second distal enclosure having a first end and a second end being opposed along a longitudinal axis, a hollow interior, and a first opening on the first end and the second distal enclosure being connected to the housing such that a passageway is formed between the hollow interior and the internal volume; the modular human habitat simulator further comprising: a plurality of simulated water bags fixedly attached to the interior surface; at least a portion of a simulated debris shield fixedly attached to the external surface; and a plurality of cylinders, wherein the cylinders simulate storage requirements of gases or liquids, wherein the number and location of the cylinders is dependent on a mission and experimental scenario. 2. The modular human habitat simulator according to claim 1 further comprising at least one longeron fixedly attached to, and extending from, the first distal enclosure through the internal volume and fixedly attached to the second distal enclosure. 3. The modular human habitat simulator according to claim 1 further comprising at least one window extending through the rigid wall into the internal volume. 4. The modular human habitat simulator according to claim 1 further comprising an opening on the second end of through the second distal enclosure thereby forming a passage to the internal volume. 5. The modular human habitat simulator according to claim 1 further comprising; a floor structure; means for supporting the floor structure; and the floor structure extending substantially the length of the longitudinal axis and substantially dividing the internal volume into an upper internal space and a lower internal space. 6. A modular human habitat simulator according to claim 5 further comprising at least one access opening in the floor structure. 7. The modular human habitat simulator according to claim 1 further comprising; a plurality of floor structures; means for supporting the plurality of floor structure; and the plurality of floor structures extending substantially the length of the longitudinal axis and substantially dividing the internal volume into a plurality of internal spaces. 8. A modular human habitat simulator according to claim 7 further comprising at least one access opening in at least one floor structure. 9. The modular human habitat simulator according to claim 1 wherein the cylinders are disposed within, and fixedly attached to, the first distal enclosure. 10. The modular human habitat simulator according to claim 1 wherein the cylinders are disposed within, and fixedly attached to, the second distal enclosure. 11. The modular human habitat simulator according to claim 1 wherein the cylinders are disposed along, and fixedly attached to, the external surface of the first distal enclosure. 12. The modular human habitat simulator according to claim 1 wherein the cylinders are disposed along, and fixedly attached to, the external surface of the second distal enclosure. 13. The modular human habitat simulator according to claim 1 further including a plurality of simulated panels fixedly attached to the interior surface. 14. The modular human habitat simulator according to claim 1 wherein the cylinders are fixedly attached to the interior surface. 15. A modular human habitat simulator comprising: a housing having a substantially rigid wall defining an internal volume, a longitudinal axis, a first opening and a second opening being opposed along the longitudinal axis, an external surface, and the substantially rigid wall having an interior surface of generally the shape of a deployed inflatable shell internal surface of a modular human habitat, and the internal volume being substantially that of a deployed inflatable modular human habitat volume; a first distal enclosure having a first end and a second end being opposed along a longitudinal axis, a first aperture on the first end and a second aperture on the second end forming a passage therethrough, and the first distal enclosure is connected to the housing such that the passage aligns with the first opening of the housing thereby providing access to the internal volume; a second distal enclosure having a first end and a second end being opposed along a longitudinal axis, a hollow interior, and a first opening on the first end and the second distal enclosure being connected to the housing such that a passageway is formed between the hollow interior and the internal volume; and at least one longeron fixedly attached to, and extending from, the first distal enclosure through the internal volume and fixedly attached to the second distal enclosure; the modular human habitat simulator further comprising: a plurality of simulated water bags fixedly attached to the interior surface; at least a portion of a simulated debris shield fixedly attached to the external surface; and a plurality of cylinders, wherein the cylinders simulate storage requirements of gases or liquids, wherein the number and location of the cylinders is dependent on a mission and experimental scenario. 16. A method of constructing a modular human habitat simulator comprising the steps of; providing a plurality of housing segments; assembling the housing segments into a housing having an internal volume, a first opening and second opening opposed along a longitudinal axis; inserting at least one longeron into the internal volume; attaching a first distal enclosure having a passage therethrough over the first opening such that the internal volume is accessible through the passage; attaching the first distal enclosure to the longeron; attaching a second distal enclosure having a hollow interior over the second opening such that a passageway is formed between the internal volume and the hollow interior; and attaching the second distal enclosure to the longeron; wherein the at least one longeron is not required to be fully functional; attaching a plurality of simulated water bags to an interior surface of the housing; attaching at least a portion of a simulated debris shield to an external surface of the housing; placing a plurality of cylinders within the first distal enclosure, second distal enclosure, and the internal volume of the housing, wherein the cylinders simulate storage requirements of gases or liquids, wherein the number and location of the cylinders is dependent on a mission and experimental scenario. 17. A method of constructing a modular human habitat simulator comprising the steps of; providing a plurality of housing segments; assembling the housing segments into a housing having an internal volume, a first opening and second opening opposed along a longitudinal axis; inserting at least one longeron into the internal volume; attaching a first distal enclosure having a passage therethrough to the housing such that the passage coincides with the first opening of the housing; attaching the first distal enclosure to the longeron; attaching a second distal enclosure having a passageway therethrough to the housing such that the passageway coincides with the first opening of the housing; and attaching the second distal enclosure to the longeron; wherein the at least one longeron is not required to be fully functional; attaching a plurality of simulated water bags to an interior surface of the housing; attaching at least a portion of a simulated debris shield to an external surface of the housing; and placing a plurality of cylinders within the first distal enclosure, second distal enclosure, and the internal volume of the housing, wherein the cylinders simulate storage requirements of gases or liquids, wherein the number and location of the cylinders is dependent on a mission and experimental scenario.