In the Spring of 2024, MIT piloted a new undertaking in interdisciplinary design for space habitats. A Space Architecture design studio brought together students from across MIT to imagine, design, prototype and test the future of Space Architecture. This studio was run in parallel with Architecture, Aero/Astro Space Systems Engineering class and the Media Lab Space Exploration Initiative’s Operating in the Lunar Environments class. There were shared lectures and activities, with the goal of bringing together students with varied backgrounds to create a synergy that will hopefully lead to new ideas about human habitation and activities on the Moon.

2024 Topic

In 2024 the collaborative studio prompted students to imagine, design, model, prototype and test their unique proposals. Projects may focus on novel approaches to: construction/assembly, deployability, transportation/logistics, human experience, In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), material performance, or the many components of living and dwelling transformed on another world.

The semester involved a detailed exploration of the design and engineering challenges posed by operating in the lunar environment. Students gained hands-on experience, working in teams, to design a lunar habitat to address strategic objectives associated with NASA’s Artemis program, aiming to enable near-term sustainable settlements on the lunar surface. Lectures explored varying mission goals and operating environment constraints, from launch, to orbiters, landers, rovers, and habitats. Guest lectures included prominent engineers, scientists, designers, industry players and policymakers, with direct experience in lunar mission design and development. 

Instructors

Cody Paige (MIT Media Lab)

Skylar Tibbits (MIT Architecture)

Nicholas de Monchaux (MIT Architecture)

Jeffrey Hoffman (MIT Aero/Astro)

Ed Crawley (MIT Aero/Astro)

TA: Katerina Apostolopoulou (SA+P)

TA: Nadia Rehman Khan (Aero/Astro)

In the Press

2024 Projects