초록 ▼

Disclosed is a lightweight modular structure that can be transported to the surface of a celestial body in one rocket payload, and assembled rapidly by two robots. The structure is airtight, thermally insulated, resistant to micro-meteoroid penetration, provides radiation shielding, includes an airl

Disclosed is a lightweight modular structure that can be transported to the surface of a celestial body in one rocket payload, and assembled rapidly by two robots. The structure is airtight, thermally insulated, resistant to micro-meteoroid penetration, provides radiation shielding, includes an airlock, and is capable of being pressurized and equipped with life support systems. When assembled on celestial bodies with gravity up to 40% of Earth's gravity, the structure can be buried under two meters of extraterrestrial material to provide additional thermal insulation, radiation protection, and protection against micrometeoroid penetration. The structure can be assembled in different configurations, and may include windows, modular walkways to connect a plurality of structures, and hangar-style doors to accommodate passage of large items. The structure can also be configured for use on Earth in areas of chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) contamination, and in areas subject to extreme temperatures.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A rapid assembly lightweight modular structure that is capable of being launched from Earth to a celestial body, unassembled, and then assembled on the surface of the celestial body, comprising: modular elements that when assembled form a structure that is airtight from four to twenty psia, said

1. A rapid assembly lightweight modular structure that is capable of being launched from Earth to a celestial body, unassembled, and then assembled on the surface of the celestial body, comprising: modular elements that when assembled form a structure that is airtight from four to twenty psia, said modular elements including exterior composite panels that form walls and arched roof of the structure; said modular elements further including an airlock unit located in the left half of the front wall; said modular elements further including one set of hangar doors, which are located in the front wall of the structure, to the right of the airlock; said modular elements further including a window which may be located in either side of the structure; said modular elements further including compressed air tanks located on the interior of the structure; said modular elements further including life support equipment located in the interior of the structure; said modular elements further including an air pump in the interior of the structure capable of maintaining pressurization of the structure from four to twenty psia; said modular elements further including polymeric sealing material, attachment mechanisms, and adhesive capable of maintaining an airtight seal between all exterior modular elements; and said modular elements further including polymeric sealing material adhesively attached over the interior of all external modular elements except the airlock, hangar doors, and window. 2. A rapid assembly lightweight modular structure according to claim 1, wherein said structure includes a modular walkway that is capable of connecting one side of the structure to another structure to provide additional habitable space. 3. A rapid assembly lightweight modular structure according to claim 1, wherein said structure includes thermal insulation that is affixed to the exterior of the structure; and said structure further includes heating and air conditioning equipment in the interior of the structure, such that the interior of the structure remains in the temperature range of 15.55° C./60° F. to 26.66° C./80° F. 4. A rapid assembly lightweight modular structure according to claim 1, wherein said modular structure includes exterior panels that are composed of composite materials that have radiation-shielding properties, whereby humans are capable of inhabiting the structure without exceeding NASA Space Flight Radiation Exposure Dose Limits, as set forth in NASA-STD-3001, Volume 1, Appendix F.8, Table 4 (2007), for a period of one month when the structure includes exterior thermal insulation, and for a period of one year when the structure, including external thermal insulation, is covered with two meters of material on all sides except the front of the structure, and to a depth of two meters over the roof of the structure. 5. A rapid assembly lightweight modular structure according to claim 1, wherein said structure, when assembled on a celestial body with gravity up to 40% of Earth's gravity, is capable of being buried under, and bearing the weight of two meters of extraterrestrial material on all sides except the front of the structure, and over the roof to a depth of two meters, without structural degradation, for the purposes of providing additional thermal insulation, additional radiation protection, and additional protection against micrometeoroid penetration. 6. A rapid assembly lightweight modular structure according to claim 1, wherein said structure includes full-spectrum lighting for the purpose of growing plants. 7. A rapid assembly lightweight modular structure according to claim 1, wherein said structure includes laboratory equipment in the interior of the structure. 8. A rapid assembly lightweight modular structure according to claim 1, wherein said structure includes maintenance and repair equipment for the purpose of maintaining and repairing rovers, materials-processing equipment, excavation equipment, construction equipment, and mining equipment. 9. A rapid assembly lightweight modular structure according to claim 1, wherein the unassembled modular elements of the structure are capable of being launched in one rocket payload. 10. A rapid assembly lightweight modular structure according to claim 1, wherein the structure is capable of being assembled by two robots. 11. A rapid assembly lightweight modular structure capable of functioning as a very large airlock on a celestial body, comprising: modular elements that when assembled form a structure that is airtight from four to twenty psia, said modular elements including exterior composite panels that form the walls and arched roof of the structure; said modular elements further including an airlock unit located in the left half of the front wall of the structure; said modular elements further including a vacuum pump capable of removing all air from the interior of the structure; said modular elements further including an air pump capable of pressurizing the interior of the structure from four to twenty psia; said modular elements further including compressed air tanks; said modular elements further including polymeric sealing material, attachment mechanisms, and adhesive; said modular elements further including thermal insulation; and said modular elements further including two sets of hangar doors, one at each end of the structure, such that large items are capable of passing from unpressurized vacuum, through the front hangar doors into the structure, and then after the front hangar doors are closed, and the structure is sealed and pressurized, are capable of passing through the rear hangar doors into a pressurized construction or mining area underground. 12. A rapid assembly lightweight modular structure that is capable of being assembled on Earth, comprising: modular elements that when assembled form a structure, said modular elements including exterior composite panels that form the walls and arched roof of the structure; said modular elements further including one exterior door, which is located in the left half of the front wall of the structure; said modular elements further including one set of hangar doors, which are located in the front wall of the structure to the right of the exterior door; said modular elements further including a window which may be located in either side of the structure; and said modular elements further including polymeric sealing material, attachment mechanisms, and adhesive capable of maintaining an airtight seal between all exterior modular elements. 13. A rapid assembly lightweight modular structure according to claim 12, wherein said structure is airtight from four to twenty psia, comprising: modular elements that when assembled form a structure, said modular elements including a vacuum pump capable of removing all air from the interior of the structure; said modular elements further including an air pump capable of pressurizing the interior of the structure from four to twenty psia; said modular elements further including compressed air tanks; said modular elements further including life support equipment; said modular elements further including an airlock unit in the left half of the front wall, in place of the exterior door; said modular elements further including polymeric sealing material adhesively attached over the interior of all external modular elements except the airlock, the hangar doors, and the window; and said modular elements further including chemical, biological, radiological, and/or nuclear detection and decontamination equipment, such that the structure is capable of being used as a command post, detection and analysis laboratory, or shelter in an area subject to chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear contamination. 14. A rapid assembly lightweight modular structure according to claim 12, comprising: modular elements that when assembled form a structure, said modular elements including thermal insulation installed on the exterior of the structure, and said structure further including heating and air conditioning equipment in the interior of the structure, such that the structure is capable of maintaining the interior temperature within a range of 15.55° C./60° F. to 26.66° C./80° F. in areas where the temperature outside the structure is extreme, including the artic, Antarctica, and desert areas, and wherein the structure is capable of being used for-the purposes of habitation, shelter, garaging vehicles, maintenance and repair of equipment, storage of supplies, growing plants, or scientific research. 15. A rapid assembly lightweight modular structure according to claim 12, wherein the structure is capable of being assembled by two robots. 16. A rapid assembly lightweight modular structure according to claim 11, wherein the structure is capable of being assembled by two robots.