Energy Analysis of Growth Adaptable Artificial Gravity Space Habitat

2018, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA. All rights reserved. The USA has been in space for over 50 years in zero-g, and it is unhealthy. A project called "The Growable Artificial Gravity Habitat (GAGH)" seeks to solve four problems in space: providing gravity, food, radiation protection, and a growable technology that enlarges the habitat as economics dictate. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of the project by presenting a comprehensive analysis showing a livable thermal environment under energy equilibrium. Detailed energy calculation includes absorbed solar energy from sunlight, allocation of solar energy to crops and a green park, collected electricity from PV panels for personal activity consumption, and a solution to surplus heat via self-radiation and the radiator. This paper indicates that the incoming solar energy is sufficient to support food supply for 8000 inhabitants with a crop area of 300 m 2 per person, and a green park of 3.07 10 5 m 2 . This paper also shows that electricity collected from PV panels can supply 8000 inhabitants for daily living and work. The thermal analysis also demonstrates that temperature inside the habitat stabilizes around 300 K with the assistance from the radiator. The radiation protection requires 5m thick shield.

Energy Analysis of Growth Adaptable Artificial Gravity Space Habitat Conference Paper