Space Design

ISS HAB MODULE interior design for ASI/NASA

Project Daniele Bedini

In 2001, ASI (Italian Space Agency) gave to Daniele Bedini’ s team the job to design the interiors and most of the functional elements of the foreseen HABITATION MODULE to be attached to ISS (International Space Station).

The contract was named:

ISS HABITATION MODULE – Habitability and Equipment’s Design

The project was part of an agreement between ASI and NASA, which gave ASI the responsibility to design and build the HAB Module.

All the project was developed in closed collaboration with THALES ALENIA SPACE, based in Turin and Bedini & Partners has co-ordinated its 12 specialists team with aerospace engineers.

The final project matched all the goals stated at the beginning:

Italian Style application into all design phases
Innovation in the Module design in terms of better habitability and functionality taking into account psycho/sociological aspects
No-space related companies involvement (technology transfer)
Innovative technologies to better the functional elements with the aim to improve flexibility, reconfigurability, spaciousness, and saving volume

The team has design two different module configurations for 4 astronauts + visiting crew.:

24 racks long (m. 8 x m. 4,5 in diameter)
16 racks long (m. 6 x m. 4,5 in diameter)

The team designed, in particular, these functional areas:

– Crew Quarters

– Galley, Wardroom and Food System

– Hygiene and Health System

– Stowage System)

– Lighting and Air-conditioning System

– Telecommunications and media System

– Styling

Among all innovative design ideas and concepts, developed by Bedini & Partners, these are the most impressive:

Crew Quarters

For the time, through the design of deployable private cabin, Bedini Daniele has maintained the horizontal orientation for the beds. This was an amazing result if we think at the very bad situation now on-board the Space Station.

Galley, Wardroom and Food System

A revolutionary compactable table was designed to accommodate up to 8 persons in a huge wardroom, obtained during the day when the private cabins are closed.

Also an innovative food system is part of innovation in terms of having ‘fresh food’, minimizing refrigerator needs and reducing wastes.

Hygiene and Health System

An innovative inflatable shower, completely storable in the toilet door, permits to have in only one rack the toilet and shower as well as partial hygiene tools.

Stowage System

Probably, the most innovative part of the project, In the light to reduce the weight of all the internal components, to create a smart coding system, to enhance the feeling of spaciousness, Bedini’s team designed an inflatable, coloured, semi-transparent modular stowage system. The stowage boxes are retro-lighted and create an evanescent environment rich in stimulation, in emotion and giving to the module a sense of space.

Lighting and Air-conditioning System

All the new and advanced lighting system is thought to re-create the Sun cycles. LUMEN is its name from a previous research developed by Bedini for ASI.

With this project, Bedini & Partners has become one of the most appreciated Space Design Firm, worldwide.