Space architects specialize in designing built spaces for space exploration and potential colonization. They consider human interaction, mental well-being, environmental forces, efficiency, and whole systems. Space architects work on various projects and need to understand engineering and project costs. Space architecture is a constantly expanding field with highly competitive training programs.
A space architect is an architect who specializes in developing built spaces used in space exploration. Space architects are also interested in the potential colonization and settlement of space. This specialty is very unique, and only a handful of colleges and universities offer space architecture training programs to people interested in becoming space architects. Many space architects work for government organizations such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) or private companies that develop aerospace equipment.
There are a number of issues that need to be addressed with space architecture. As in other forms of architecture, architects of space have to think about how humans will use the space and how they will interact with the space, creating pleasing and functional designs. They also need to think about needs such as the desire to address human stress and emotional strain in space by creating built spaces that promote mental well-being, as well as the need to create usable space in low-gravity and non-gravity environments.
For a space architect, there are additional concerns, including the desire to build structures that can withstand environmental forces such as radiation, the strain of being launched into orbit, or the conditions under which large structures are assembled in space. Space architects must also think about designing spaces as efficiently as possible to avoid wasting weight and space, as carrying objects into the space costs money. A space architect may need to consider issues such as waste disposal, recycling, maintenance, and other topics, viewing the objects she designs as whole systems.
While many people associate the field of architecture with buildings, space architects actually work on a wide variety of projects, including space shuttles, rockets, and satellites. As a result, many are also competent engineers, as they need to be able to understand the systems they work with and the limitations their designs may encounter. They may also cover topics such as the overall costs of a project and how a project is used.
Space architecture is an ever-expanding field, just like space itself. A space architect may work in a variety of contexts on a variety of space exploration-related projects, and these architecture professionals are constantly honing their skills and understanding of the projects they work on. Individuals interested in becoming a space architect can pursue professional training in a space architecture program, although they should be aware that admission to such programs is highly competitive.
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