Space Travel | Passenger Experience
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As commercial space activity accelerates, Teague is proudly exploring the future of zero gravity living, creating new products and passenger experiences that will shape the future of space travel.
Challenge
Like the early days of commercial aviation, government investment was necessary to get the space industry off the ground. Today, commercialization and public-private-sector partnerships are the new frontier in space. According to NASA, more has been accomplished in the pursuit of space travel in the last 15 years than in the first 50 years of aviation, which eventually saw millions of people taking to the sky every day. As more and more people travel to space and for extended periods of time, human-centered design will play a critical role in shaping our future experiences. How will people live and work in space? That is what we're exploring.
APPROACH
The highest priority of any current mission is the provision of basic needs to sustain the life and safety of astronauts. But surviving is not the same as living. Space travelers today are highly-skilled astronauts trained to adapt and live in space. The longer voyages of our future will carry newcomers who will need a new and better experience that expertly balances survival and happiness.
In our experience, we've learned that trust is the foundation of a successful unpiloted journey; a goal for this program was to identify a set of design principles for establishing passenger trust in the spaceship environment. Being isolated, and in a confined space for an extended period of time will require confidence, comfort, and control on top of the training and safety standards already in place.
LIVING SPACE MODULE: BEDROOM SUITES
The ship supports two bedroom modules designed with storage, sleeping space, and communication systems. Each bedroom is neatly divided into two sections. The first includes a bed that secures 1-2 people in place with a tensioned blanket that pulls them into a recessed bed. The second features popup storage compartments for personal items, a sliding privacy door, communications screen, and architectural lighting that helps orients passengers while in bed.
Isolated spaces like the bedroom suite leverage dynamic lighting scenes that help ease passengers through their journey by managing circadian rhythms to promote better health and wellness. Bedroom lighting transitions from a starry night to an early morning sky with sunrise colors of oranges and blues that increases gradually to naturally wake passengers.
LIVING SPACE MODULE: GREEN WALL
Today's space travel doesn't offer privacy; near every activity is a group activity. Another deficiency on space stations today, green. Life on Earth is mostly green. Long haul space travelers will crave a connection to the Earth, to continue their relationship with a natural environment while removed from it.
A private place that connects back to Earth is achieved in part through a living green wall. A living wall can provide many benefits. Beyond beauty, there is evidence to support that exposure to nature is good for human health, well-being, and happiness; interior plants elevate mood, reduce stress, and enhance productivity.
Architecturally the living wall links spaces together to provides expansive space to grow food, relax, and breathe. The design includes handholds for easier navigation in zero gravity and provides a light source for the live plants. Temperature regulation and air filtration create a unique environment in the ship, purposefully designed for moments of solace and privacy.
One of the things I missed most while living in space was being able to go outside and experience nature.
Scott Kelly
Retire Astronaut / NASA
LIVING SPACE MODULE: Multi-PURPOSE
Human connection is critical to our health. On Earth, we live, love, and belong through friendship, intimacy, and a sense of family connectedness. Interpersonal connection is primary to our self-esteem and a basic need that would allow us to better endure a long journey in space.
The multi-purpose space is the social area of the ship. It’s designed to be flexible; elements of various activities are stowed behind doors which allow users to quickly transform the environment to fit their needs. Opening the doors to this space is done by flipping a digital switch which disengages the door from the wall and allows users to remove them. Controls like these are used to control all core functions of the ship.
One of the most important spaces in the ship is the kitchen and eating module, it contains everything needed to make meals and it’s discretely hidden behind a set of perforated doors. The countertop surface is a downdraft table that helps pin food down to its surface while being prepared. When it’s time to eat, users simply attach the table to the downdraft system which allows for food, and dishes to be pinned to its surface.
