NOAH is a deployable origami habitat designed to fit in SpaceX’s Starship in a folded stage and later to be deployed by the crew while landing on planetary surface. NOAH aims to integrate the emerging technologies and push forward the design not only in terms of technology but also make it more cost-efficient. We are harnessing the power of AI in our project at several stages of RnD. In the mission architecture phase, with the consideration of several factors like net habitable volume, design efficiency, zero-energy design, zero-gravity design, we optimize our models to achieve the desired requirements.
The Journey
Deployment
Origami Testing
Why Noah?
Research + Mission Analysis
Design
Testing
Results
Prototyping
Project approach
Mission Analysis
​
The first people on Mars are set to land within the next decade, and their mission to Mars may be as long as 2 and a half years. The mission for us here on Earth? Creating and effectively engineering a space that can sustain life and solve problem centres.
Defining Challenges
​
With a Martian Habitat, the important thing to take note of is that it not only has to keep the crew alive, but it has to withstand the atmosphere, pressure difference, radiation, extreme temperature, reduced gravity, debris and dust challenges. The challenge here therefore becomes, how can a habitat be designed so that it can accomodate the crew and keep the crew mentally, physically, socially and emotionally over the course of this mission.
Design Analysis
Volume and Mass are very important while designing a space habitat to minimize the payload and reduce the cost of the mission. Another such consideration is to identify the crew needs and accommodations through habitat facilities. Such facilities include, Airlock, dust mitigating before the entry into the habitat, EVA, kitchen and bath, crew private sleeping quarters, stowage, medical and bio lab
Engineering Analysis
​
The materials of the habitat has to a solid structure with a high resistance towards radiation and debris. It should withstand a temperature from -100 degree celsius to plus 100 degree celsius over a longer period of time.In addition to this, it should be thermally and structurally sound. For such challenges, at AAKA, we perform thorough structural, aerodynamic, thermal, stress, radiation, energy and mechanical analysis through intensive research and development from the start to the end of the project.
Resource Analysis
At this stage of the project, we start by considering various costs involved not only to launch it for the Mars mission but also to test the design through prototype building.One of the crucial tasks is the financial risk assessment for the execution of the project from the start to the end. Followed by that, procurement of resources takes place
Prototype Building / Testing
​
At AAKA, we are well equipped with the infrastructural facility to build the prototype and test at the preliminary stage. Noah is at the moment being constructed in an undisclosed location and will be shipped to North Canada in a remote location for over 3 months.