Inflatable Habitat Investigation

One idea for the design of a shelter on Mars is an inflatable habitat. For this investigation, you will build a model of an inflatable habitat design that is shaped like a rectangular prism.

The diagram (left) depicts an inflatable habitat design that has been deconstructed. The floor and ceiling are squares, and the four walls and air lock are rectangles. Dimensions of each part of the habitat are provided.

The two circular connecting tunnels and fan tunnel are also rectangles. These rectangles have been shaped into three dimensional tunnels by fastening their ends together.

Watch the Cutting and Building a Full-Scale Inflatable Habitat video to see how to cut out and assemble the plastic pieces for a full-size habitat.

The dimensions in the design diagram above are for a life-sized habitat. You will be building a scale model inflatable habitat as one of your mission tasks. How do you find the dimensions of a desktop-sized habitat model that has the same shape? Watch the Designing a Scale Model video to find out.

Build a scale model inflatable habitat using the design diagram above and the scale: 1 inch equals 1 foot. Watch the Building an Inflatable Habitat Model video for more details.

Now it’s your turn to design a habitat.

As you work on your design, some other requirements you might consider include:

- Separate living quarters and work areas
- A way to get in and out
- A way to link to other habitats or expand the colony
Sketch a blueprint of your design in your Mission Journal and include labels explaining the design.

If you would like to, you can build a desktop model of your design using simple materials you have on hand. Some examples are cardboard, construction paper, or even items that you throw away like packaging from everyday items you use.

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