India tests egg-shaped astronaut house

[Kyng]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g23rjq8qro


(Source: AAKA Space Studio / Above article)

Could this egg-shaped structure be what the future home of Indian astronauts in space looks like?

The Hab-1 - short for Habitat-1 – is Indian space agency Isro's first-ever "analog mission" which means simulation of space conditions to prepare astronauts for real space missions. It was recently tested for three weeks in the high Himalayan mountains of Ladakh.

Space architect Aastha Kacha-Jhala, from Gujarat-based firm Aaka, told the BBC that these simulations help identify and address issues astronauts and equipment might face before space missions.

Built with space-grade Teflon and insulated with industrial-use foam, Hab-1 has a bed, a stowaway tray which can be pulled out and used as a workstation, storage space to keep supplies and emergency kits, a kitchenette for heating meals and a toilet. An astronaut in simulation spent three weeks holed up in the facility.

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Yeah, while that does sound pretty isolating, it also seems to be pretty well-equipped for a relatively small home! And it's not like they can bring anything much bigger on the rocket that gets them into space.

Best of luck to them in their experiments!