HESTIA: A Centralized Trunk 

Earth based analog for a 90 day Mars mission for a crew of 4

Assumptions:

• ECLSS system is equivalent in volume to 4 racks

• Designs to be constrained by current structure

• Designs to be constrained for Earth habitat analog

• Secondary structure to support all interior structures

• Emphasis on subsystems integration

• 90 day mission with NO EVA

• Single, small airlock for non “mission” activities 

• Current HVAC and fire suppression systems to be integrated into design (providing 

ELCSS functionality)

A Centralized Trunk: This HESTIA concept aims to reduce the complexity of the systems by 

creating a single “systems trunk” though the center of the habitat. This allows for more unique 

spacial separation, pulling the major systems off the periphery and placing them into a centralized 

group. This grouping limits the overall length of individual utilities, providing a combined trunk 

rather than having them spread along a wall. The utilities are centered and based in the ECLSS 

on the first floor. This allows for the shortest access for water return systems, tanks, air pressure 

and power to all of the major end uses. The result dictates that the major systems are stacked, 

creating hubs on each floor, centralizing the workflow and providing dual means of egress on all 

floors. 

Systems running through the trunk:

• Potable water

• Sewage

• Electricity

• Data

• Compressed Air

Secondary Structure: The secondary structure is composed of 80/20 columns anchored to the 

floor and ceiling by a leveling ring of 80/20. This removes the need for several custom structures 

and unifies the amount of structural support delivered by the columns. The columns are spaced 

20 degrees apart, this allows for a useful chord length (roughly 1 meter) while maintaining 

flexibility in accommodating built in obstacles on the chamber wall. Per Contra, the main purpose 

of the secondary structure in this design is to support a soft, modular storage solution as the 

central trunk feeds all the systems of the habitat. The bags are a 0.5 by 0.5 by 0.5 meter volume 

that hook onto the screen panels that are fastened to the columns. 

Down and Dirty: The ground floor is set up around the ECLSS structure, creating a large volume 

in the center of the space. In order to maximize the volume closest to the water and power, a 

hygiene compartment, aeroponics, and sink are molded into the structure. Sandwiching this 

construction are two 1,100 liter water tanks, supplying direct access to the systems that require 

on-demand water. This aids in keeping the two most massive elements at the lowest point in the 

habitat, aiding in EDL by enabling a lower center of gravity. Roughly 50% of the perimeter is

allocated to the sciences, providing ample work surfaces for labs, long term experiments, tool 

storage, controlled environments, sample return clean room options and maintenance. The 

remainder of the perimeter allow for the stowage of deployable gym equipment, suit spares, and 

waste containment envelopes. The airlock provides the only egress into the chamber, however, 
once inside all floors have two modes of emergency egress provided by the main ladder and the 

emergency rungs installed on the secondary structure over the cargo access. 

NASA requires each crew member to maintain a 2.5 hour a day gym routine, thus the allocation 

of a significant portion of the available floor space. The first floor accommodates this by separating 

the primary science/work surfaces and the gym/hygiene/human research area with the ECLSS 

monolith. The structure creates a large visual barrier as well as providing a high level of white 

noise to wash out some of the ambient noise that comes from a treadmill and a die grinder (fed 

from compressed air tapped off the central ECLSS structure).

Food and Fun: The second floor holds very few of the utility heavy systems. Thus the volumes 

can be reduced while still providing utility for the crew. The second floor supplies the galley, 

pantry, long term food storage, med-bay, cold storage, wardroom, command control, and RMS 

station. There are centralized sinks, allowing water to be run, independently to the galley and the 

med-bay. The slender forms that divide the galley and wardroom space from the medical area 

yield a reduction of mass. To take advantage of this, the walls, ceiling and floor are to be outfitted 

with roughly 5,100kg of 5 cm thick radiation bricks to provide shielding. This allows the entire floor 

to be protected during a solar particle event, giving the crew access to food, water, entertainment, 

and medical, while the reduced footprint of utilities provides ample floor space for sleeping if the 

event lasts for more than a rotation. The daily consumables are crushed in a galley mounted 

waste compactor which sends any wayward water back into the trunk while the bricks of solid 

waste get stored in the floor of the dust porch or in cargo bags stacked against the exterior wall 

of the habitat. The wardroom table can be configured in either a small, cafe style surface or 

deployed out, providing room for four. 

The focus is on open space. The first floor, where the crew spends the majority of their working 

hours, is cramped due to the triple duty of laboratory, gym and maintenance. The second floor, 

while providing several of the key mission capabilities, caters to R&R with relatively large open 

floors, a large window and “open plan” style kitchen. Medical privacy is supplied by a deployable 

curtain to separate crew and patient during exams or treatment. The command and control center 

is situated on the opposite side of the habitat from the wardroom and galley with no line of site. 

This separates the functions and creates a work zone that is differentiated from the community 

area, dining table, and the command center by breaking up the line of sight with the medical area.

Rinse and Repeat: The third floor is reserved for crew quarters and hygiene. The second toilet 

is centrally co-located with the shower, divorced with a divider and separate entrances. As this is 

in the middle of the habitat, providing means of egress and maintaining four individual 

compartments of equal proportions proved impractical. The rooms are of equal net volume, 

however, the bed structures and overall room layouts vary in pairs. To maximize living space, the 

beds are arranged as bunks with an asymmetrical divider that separates the rooms. The top 

bunk’s divider is curved over the bed creating more visual volume for the crewmate on the other 

side of the wall. The hygiene area is recessed into one pair of rooms, while the passageway 

protrudes into the second pair of rooms. This evens out the reduction of habitable space in the 

private quarters and increases the corridor, providing almost a direct line of sight to either of the 

egress points, or to see if someone is using the lavatory. The rooms are provided with power and 

light, allowing space for sanctioned personal experiments, personal down time and a place to 

sleep. Through analysis of “A day in the life,” crew members spend between 33-59% of a given 

24hr day, activities ranging from sleeping, down time, logs, and hygiene. This has been a driving 

factor in the provision of such substantial volume for the crew quarters.
HESTIA: A Centralized Trunk

January 10th, 2017

Kyle Kesling

Taylor Phillips-Hungerford
Major Systems Trunk

Potable water

Electricity/ Data

Compressed

air

Sewage

Satin Finish 

Carbon Fiber
Secondary Structure: Good Ol’ 80/20

• 212 (0.50 x 0.50 x 0.50) m bags

• ~ 4 bags equivalent in galley

and medical area

• 2 x 1100 kg water tanks

• Minimum Volume: ~ 27 m^3

Multi-colored 

Woven Polyethylene 

Mesh Paneling
1st Floor: Down and Dirty

Cargo bags color-coated as denoted in bubble diagram 
1st Floor: Down and Dirty

Science Section

General Maintenance

Toilet/Wetroom

Exercise 

Cargo bag stowage

Suit stowage

ECLSS

1100 kg water tank

Central Trunk

HVAC

Opaque RBG 

LEDs 
1st Floor: Down and Dirty

White Carbon Fiber 

Structure

Black Carbon Fiber 

Door Panels

Translucent Water Tanks

Tan Synthetic Cork 

Floor

Blue Carbon Fiber Work 

Surface

Red Carbon Fiber 

Door Handles
2nd Floor: Food and Fun

Cargo bags color-coated as denoted in bubble diagram 
2nd Floor: Food and Fun

Expandable dining table

Food stowage

Cold medical 

stowage

Deployable

privacy curtain

CC/ RMS

More stowage

Opaque RBG 

LEDs 
2nd Floor: Food and Fun

White Carbon Fiber Kitchen 

Work Surface

Light Orange Walnut Dining 

Table

Black Carbon Fiber 

Structure

Tan Synthetic Cork 

Floor

Computer Screen

Window-Analog 

Computer Screen
3rd Floor: Rinse and Repeat

Cargo bags color-coated as denoted in bubble diagram 
3rd Floor: Rinse and Repeat

Bunk beds

Desk

Shower

Toilet

Stowed winch

* Possible additions: Extra fire sprinkler in the passageway

Opaque RBG 

LEDs 

Black Carbon Fiber Work 

Surface
3rd Floor: Rinse and Repeat

Tan Synthetic Cork 

Floor

Blue Memory Foam 

Mattress 

Glossy Carbon Fiber 

Structure
Cheers!
Kyle Kesling is a native Texan who has been 

fascinated with space travel ever since his 

first visit to NASA as a child. He was always 

looking up at airplanes in awe as giant pieces 

of metal flew across the sky. This fascination 

led Kyle to join rocketry in high school and 

pursue a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace 

Engineering from the University of Texas at 

Austin. While receiving his undergraduate 

degree, Kyle was a part of the Mars 

Research Group, which furthered his interest 

in space travel. Kyle Kesling is currently 

pursuing his master’s degree in Space 

Architecture from the University of Houston. 

As a thesis, Kyle plans on designing a transit 

vehicle that will one day be used to travel to 

Mars. Kyle is currently employed as a 

contractor with Intuitive Machines working 

with Axiom Space in designing their future 

commercial space station. After graduate 

school, Kyle plans on getting a job that will 

still allow him to look up in the sky in awe, but 

this time not at airplanes, but at a creation of 

his own that was used to send the first 

humans to Mars.

Telephone: 512.810.8602

Email: kyle.a.kesling@gmail.com

Taylor Phillips-Hungerford is currently 

enrolled in the Sasakawa International 

Center for Space Architecture master’s 

program at the University of Houston. He 

was classically trained in the trade of design, 

from a very technical course at WIT in Boston 

to a very conceptual course at CSM in 

London. He was also classically trained in 

vocational labor from construction to 

landscaping, from laying water pipes in early 

winter to changing fan belts in the dead of 

winter. His design aesthetic stems from the 

virtues of honest form follows function 

practiced by I. M. Pei and Dieter Rames, and 

the day to day hands on vocational 

upbringing. This has led to a collaborative 

project fleshing out Buzz Aldrin and Larry 

Bell’s Mars cycler and permanent settlement 

concept as well as a Space Architect 

Contractor position at Axiom Space and 

Wyle Laboratories, INC. designing for human 

centric space crafts. 

Telephone: 603.380.4039

Email: cole18@gmail.com
APPENDIX
TIME CM1 - Biologist CM2 - Physician CM3 - Geologist CM4 - Mechanic/Engineer

6:00 - 6:30 AM CQ CQ CQ CQ

6:30 - 7:00 AM CQ - records questions CQ - records questions Medical blood test Uses Toilet

7:00 - 7:30 AM

7:30 - 8:00 AM

8:00 - 8:30 AM Listens to NASA's response Listens to NASA's response Sets up soil samples

8:30 - 9:00 AM Sets up rover # 1 for sample return 

9:00 - 9:30 AM

9:30 - 10:00 AM

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

10:30 - 11:00 AM Private Medical Call

11:00 - 11:30 AM Medical - eye and bp tests

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

12:00 - 12:30 PM

12:30 - 1:00 PM Cleans 1st floor wet room

1:00 - 1:30 PM

1:30 - 2:00 PM

2:00 - 2:30 PM Replaces pantry with food

2:30 - 3:00 PM

3:00 - 3:30 PM

3:30 - 4:00 PM

4:00 - 4:30 PM

4:30 - 5:00 PM Cleans up/ Changes Clothes Cleans up/ Changes Clothes Writes report on rover # 2's repairs

5:00 - 5:30 PM Sets up soil samples Sets up soil samples

5:30 - 6:00 PM Receives minor cut on arm Treats crew member with minor cut Cleans up/ Changes Clothes

6:00 - 6:30 PM

6:30 - 7:00 PM Cleans up/ Changes Clothes

7:00 - 7:30 PM

7:30 - 8:00 PM

8:00 - 8:30 PM

8:30 - 9:00 PM

9:00 - 9:30 PM

9:30 - 10:00 PM Personal Time Personal Time Personal Time Personal Time

10:00 PM - 6:00 AM SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP

Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner

Game Night Game Night Game Night Game Night

Cardio workout

Resistive workout

Begins soil sample analysis from 

rover # 1

Cleans area/ Writes up injury report Begins soil sample analysis from 

rover # 1

Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch

Checks plant growth

Rover # 1, sample return

Writes report on trunk repair Cleans 3rd floor 

shower and toilet

Resistive workout

Runs diagnostics/ performs final testing 

on rover # 2 for tomorrow's sample 

return

Cardio workout

Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast

Repairs hardware on rover #2

Performs soil sample analysis Performs soil sample analysis

Resistive workout Cardio workout

Writes up soil analysis report

Writes up soil analysis report Runs software analysis

 on rover # 2

Cardio workout Repairs Trunk Leak/Clean Trunk Resistive workout Repairs Trunk Leak/Clean Trunk
1st Floor 

(Required)

15.6%

1st Floor

(Free)

21.1%

2nd Floor 

(Required)

18.8%

2nd Floor 

(Free)

21.9%

3rd Floor

(Free) 

22.7%

AVERAGE TIME SPENT ON EACH FLOOR OVER THE COURSE OF 16 HOURS
Spacecraft Habitation Crew Functions

Yellow – include

Gold – don’t preclude

Red – assumed no room to include

HESTIA simulation of a Mars surface habitat

Functional Category Crew Function Description HESTIA Suggestion Function Location

(3'o clock = dust porch

Full Body Cleansing Washing of the entire body of an individual crew member Enclosed shower-like volume; separated from toilet volume 3F/C3

Hand/Face Cleansing Washing of an individual crew member's hands or face Traditional sink/faucet, mirror arrangement. Include surfaces/points for holding washcloth, soap, etc. May 

or may not have privacy enclosure to close off from cabin; should include access doors to full body cleansing 

and urination/defecation

1F/C2

2F/C

3F/C9

Personal Grooming Individual personal care tasks such as shaving, brushing teeth, 

combing hair, etc.

Co-locate with hand/face cleansing, include counter surface area for grooming materials and stowage area 

for housekeeping and shared items

1F/C2

3F/C9

Urination/Defecation Discharge and containment of liquid and solid bodlily wastes Enclosed toilet room with odor control and acoustic insulation; opens to hand/face cleansing and grooming 

volume.

1F/C8

3F/C9

Sleep Private environment to allow individual crew member sleep Place inside a private crew quarters; sleep on horizontal surface, elevated minimum of 2' above floor

3F/12&6

Private Communication Crew member video and or audio conversation with visual and 

auditory isolation from other crew

Place inside private crew quarters; possible from both sleep and sitting position; requires CQ to have both 

visual and auditory partitions as well as data interfaces 3F/12&6

Private Recreation/Leisure Individual crew member unstructured, non-mission, self-directed 

activity

Place inside private crew quarters; include both a desk space for seated tasks and sufficient open floor space 

to move unencumbered in any direction (e.g. Kinnect based video game) 3F/12&6

Dressing/Undressing Changing of IVA clothing Place inside private crew quarters AND inside personal grooming volume; include overhead reach 3F/12&6

Personal Data Entry/Access Individual crew member data device access on private (non-mission, 

non-shared) IT devices

Place inside private crew quarters; implies computer network securitity

3F/12&6

Aerobic Exercise Individual crew member aerobic conditioning Requires both treadmill and ergometer; additional rower is optional 1F/C6/6

Resistive Exercise Individual crew member resistive conditioning Requires equivalent to ARED 1F/5

Physical Rehabilitation Individual crew member recovery from dehibilitated condition May also include stretch bands 1F/5

Bone Conditioning Individual crew member bone loading Met by combination of ARED equivalent and treadmill 1F/C6/6

1F/5

Sensorimotor Conditioning Individual crew member sensorimotor exercise Met by presence of treadmill 1F/C6/6

Exercise Monitoring Physiological monitoring of individual crew member exercise 

countermeasure effectiveness

Requires appropirate monitoring devices and room to mount in exercise area and/or medical or life science 

area 1F/7

Preventative Medical Care Routine medical evaluation and intervention Requires ISS-equivalent or better medical capability 2F/C6

Medical Monitoring Physiological monitoring of individual crew member health Met by above medical equipment 2F/C6

Emergency Medical Care - don't preclude Contingency medical intervention due to injury or illness Requires medical workstation to be a dedicated volume not shared with other tasks and deployable privacy 

curtains; should also include equipment for transfer of injured crew to other spacecraft 2F/C6

Meal Prep Preparation of food items for crew member consumption Level of capability varies depending on fresh food augmentation; minimal is ISS rehydrator and food 

warmer; enhanced versions consider how to prepare freshly grown meats and vegetables for immediate 

consumption; other enhancments include stabilizing fresh food for use in multi-week rover expeditions

2F/C9

Fresh Food Augmentation - don't preclude Production of fresh food items (e.g. plant or animal growth) to 

supplement prepackaged food items

Minimum solution should include sufficient fruits and vegetables for a weekly crew salad; enhanced 

solutions may increase frequency and/or add additional plants or animals; consider demonstrating a meat 

concept (perhaps tilapia or salmon) 1F/C2

Eating Group and individual crew meal consumption Includes utensils, trays, surfaces, cups, etc. and galley table; Mars location implies need for chairs 2F/2

Meal Cleanup Disposal of food waste products and cleaning and stowage of 

reusable meal equipment

Stowage for housekeeping / cleaning supplies and trash stowage sized to accommodate 1-3 days worth of 

meal trash 2F/C9

Group Recreation/Leisure Group crew member unstructured, non-mission, self-directed 

activity

One or more locations in the spacecraft where all four crew can play, inclusive of physical activity, board 

cames, movie/video watching, cards, conversation, etc. 2F/2

Crew Meetings Multi-person crew mission-related meetings One or more locations in the spacecraft where all four crew can conduct work related meetings without 

displaying prohibited content in the background; at least one location should be appropriate to each type of 

mission operational activity (e.g. research, EVA, spacecraft system commanding, etc.)

2F/2

PAO Events and Multi-Person Video 

Communication

Multi-person crew video and audio communication with the ground 

or other space assets

One or more locations in the spacecraft where multiple crew can communicate with Earth or other space 

vehicles without broadcasting prohibited content in the background (e.g. no direct view of medical activity 

or proprietary research) 2F/2

Housekeeping Routine component replacement, cleaning, or adjustment of 

spacecraft subsystems

Include pantry stowage for general housekeeping items as well as point of use stowage near areas requiring 

frequent housekeeping (e.g. cleaning fluids and rags in galley) 2F/C4

Electrical Maintenance, Repair, and Fabrication Corrective action to diagnose and restore degraded functionality of 

electrical components or produce new/replacement items

Extensive electronic and electrical capability including PCB fabrication, soldering, circuit testing, etc.

1F/2

Mechanical Maintenance, Repair, and 

Fabrication

Corrective action to diagnose and restore degraded functionality of 

mechanical components or produce new/replacement items

Tools, fixtures, and parts for repair of electric motors, mechanisms, releases, and other mechanical devices

1F/2

Soft Goods Maintenance, Repair, and 

Fabrication

Corrective action to diagnose and restore degraded functionality of 

soft goods components or produce new/replacement items

Miniaturization of EC Soft goods lab; thermoplastics capability should be able to fabricate inflatables, flexible 

tubes of varying diameters, patches, seals, etc.; sewing shop should be able to fabricate suit replacement 

segments, rebuild gloves, repair boots, fabricate IVA clothes, cargo bags, curtains, etc.

1F/2

Reminder: Not all crew functions require dedicated workstations - some can be combined and some are accomplished with equipment items, while others may require multiple workstations and/or facilities. Mission duration and mission objectives drive degree 

Hygiene Activities

Maintenance, Fabrication, and 

Repair - how much?

Group Activities

Crew Dining

Medical Care

Personal Activities

Exercise Countermeasures

Habitability Design Center

NASA Johnson Space Center
Spacecraft Habitation Crew Functions

Yellow – include

Gold – don’t preclude

Red – assumed no room to include

HESTIA simulation of a Mars surface habitat

Functional Category Crew Function Description HESTIA Suggestion Function Location

(3'o clock = dust porch

Reminder: Not all crew functions require dedicated workstations - some can be combined and some are accomplished with equipment items, while others may require multiple workstations and/or facilities. Mission duration and mission objectives drive degree 

Hygiene Activities Structural Maintenance, Repair, and 

Fabrication

Corrective action to diagnose and restore degraded functionality of 

structural components or produce new/replacement items

Basic metal and plastics machine shop capabilities, including metal bending, rolling, cutting (sheet, bar stock, 

tube, etc.) grinders, saws.; 3D printing (metal and plastic); lathe and mill; small IVA welding (larger welding 

capacity EVA) 1F/2

Software Maintenance, Repair, and Fabrication 

(Coding, CAD, Diagnostics, etc.)

Corrective action to diagnose and restore degraded functionality of 

software modules or produce new/replacement code

High performance CAD and computaitonal analysis workstation; software integrated development 

environment (IDE), hardware/avionics integration (miniature SAIL-like capability)

1F/2

Subsystems Access and Control Crew member commanding and monitoring access to spacecraft 

subsystems

Include dedicated displays and crew interfaces; should facilitate 1 and 2-person operation and allow 4 crew 

to observe at same time. 2F/6

Spacecraft Piloting - don't preclude Crew member manual or supervisory piloting of mobile spacecraft 

assets

Should not conflict with robotic asset operation; usage may include Hab control of nearby MMSEV or 

ATHLETE, or remote checkout of MAV, taxi, or Mars Transfer Vehicle 2F/6

Activity Planning/Scheduling Onboard crew planning or scheduling of human or robotic tasks Does not need to be a dedicated station - could pull up from any computer interface 2F/2

Teleoperations, Robotic Supervision, and 

Remote Commanding - don't preclude

Crew member teleoperated or supervisory control of robotic or 

other remote assets

Similar to piloting station, but capable of monitoring of swarm robotic assets (e.g. multiple robots in parallel)

2F/6

Cargo Transfer to/from Visiting Vehicles or 

Attached Modules - don't preclude

Cargo Transfer across exterior pressure vessel hatches to/from 

Visiting Vehicles or Attached Modules, inclusive of hatch size, 

placement of open hatches, hatch operation, and visibility across 

hatches

Accommodate 2 docked logistics modules at all times. Hatch size should maximize cargo transfer efficiency - 

recommend 40x60-inch as minimum hatch size. If connecting tunnel is greater in length than side-step 

length, tunnel height should be same as cabin deck.

1F/3

Crew Transfer to/from Visiting Vehicles or 

Attached Modules - don't preclude

Crew Transfer across exterior pressure vessel hatches to/from 

Visiting Vehicles or Attached Modules, inclusive of hatch size, 

placement of open hatches, hatch operation, and visibility across 

hatches

Accommodate 2 docked MMSEVs at all times. Hatch size should accommodate pressurized suited crew 

transfer, including one crew member carrying incapacitated crew member - recommend 40x60-inch as 

minimum hatch size. If connecting tunnel is greater in length than side-step length, tunnel height should be 

same as cabin deck. 1F/3

IVA Crew Translation Crew translation from point to point within the pressure vessel, 

including across interior hatches, between workstations and 

subsystems, and past other crew members and cargo

Translation space should accommodate suited crew member carrying incapacitated crew member; all 

interior vertical and horizontal hatches/doorways recommend 40x60-inch as minimum size.

ALL

IVA Cargo Translation Autonomous, teleoperated, and manual cargo translation from 

point to point within the pressure vessel, including across interior 

hatches, between workstations and subsystems, and past other 

cargo and crew

Accommodate transfer of largest IVA inert item (e.g. rack, machinery, pallet, robonaut, etc.); for all interior 

vertical and horizontal hatches/doorways recommend 40x60-inch as minimum size.

ALL

IVA Restraint and Positioning Aid Rails, tie downs, manipulators, seats, foot straps, thigh bars, 

enclosures, and other devices to aid in translation, positioning, or 

restraint of crew or cargo

Mars gravity calls for use of seats for crew; rails, tie downs, manipulators, and other devices may be 

required for cargo

WINCH INSTALLED

Cargo Staging / Configuration / Sorting / 

Assembly

Temporary positioning of cargo items for sorting, assembly, 

rearrangement, or preparation to transfer to other locations

Strategically reserve open floor space near key translation points. Airlock, docking hatches, vertical 

translations are primary examples. 1F/3

Crew Access to Workstations/Crew Stations Physical access to spaceceraft facilities designed for crew use Reserve operator volume that does NOT protrude into translation paths 1F/9-3

2F/C9

2F/C6

2F/2

Crew Access to Subsystems Equipment Physical access to spacecraft subsystem components Reserve access volume behind/around equipment for cables and other ducting/plugs as well as access 

volume to install/remove and inspect subsystems

1F/C3

2F/C6

2F/C12

3F/C3

3F/C9

Crew Access to Stowage Physical access to spacecraft logistics stowage locations Ensure sufficient room to not only access and remove/replace stowage items, but to also read labels and 

identify the proper stowage unit ALL

Crew Access to Trash/Waste Physical access to spacecraft trash or waste containment locations Consider logical trash locations to store small amounts of trash at point of use (e.g. 1-2 meals worth of trash 

in galley) and odor-controlled aggregation points for batch relocation of trash to logistics module

2F/C9

Translations

Commanding

Maintenance, Fabrication, and 

Repair - how much?

Habitability Design Center

NASA Johnson Space Center
Spacecraft Habitation Crew Functions

Yellow – include

Gold – don’t preclude

Red – assumed no room to include

HESTIA simulation of a Mars surface habitat

Functional Category Crew Function Description HESTIA Suggestion Function Location

(3'o clock = dust porch

Reminder: Not all crew functions require dedicated workstations - some can be combined and some are accomplished with equipment items, while others may require multiple workstations and/or facilities. Mission duration and mission objectives drive degree 

Hygiene Activities IVA Support of EVA Crew - don't preclude IVA crew member monitoring and communication with EVA crew Does not need to be a dedicated station - could pull up from any appropriate computer interface

1F/12-2

EVA Suit Donning/Doffing Physical environment for donning or doffing EVA suits Dedicated area not inside the actual airlock volume 1F/3

EVA Ingress/Egress Access path and environment for crew member ingress and egress 

to the exterior space or planetary environment

Could be internal or external airlock; aluminum or inflatable

1F/3

Life Science Research (plant, animal, human, 

cellular, microbiology, etc.) - as required by 

HRP

Research related to life science disciplines including plant, animal, 

human, cellular, microbiology, and related domains

Study needed to determine appropriate number of workstations given crew size; approximately 7 ISPRequivalent gives broad range of life science capability

1F/3

Physical Science Research (physics, chemistry, 

metallurgy, geology, etc.) - don't preclude

Research related to physical science disciplines including physics, 

chemistry, metallurgy, geology, and other physical domains

Study needed to determine appropriate number of workstations given crew size; approximately 8 ISPRequivalent gives broad range of life science capability

1F/11

Earth/Planetary and Space Science Research 

(meterology, astronomy, etc.) - don't preclude

Research related to space, earth, an dplanetary science disicplines 

including meterology, astronomy, and other related domains

Study needed to determine appropriate number of workstations given crew size; approximately 1 ISPRequivalent gives broad range of Earth/space/planetary science capability

OUTSIDE

Technology Testing Research Research related to testing of technologies including spacecraft 

subsystems, robotic systems, and other engineered devices or 

locally fabricated items

May be able to co-locate with maintenance and repair capability; might require some additional 

hardware/tools

1F/2

Crew Training Individual and group crew member training and evaluation activities Does not need to be a dedicated station, but may require deployable panels (e.g. Orion mockup for crew 

training) 2F/6

Frequent Access Stowage Stowage of items designed to facilitate frequent crew member 

access

Consider logical stowage locations to store reasonable amount of supplies at point of use (e.g. 1-2 weeks of 

food in the galley) ALL

Infrequent Access Stowage Long term stowage not intended for regular crew member access Consider larger pantry stowage at strategic/architecturally sound locations (e.g. a food stowage wall in a 

corridor with 3 months food) 1F/TOP

Cold Stowage Stowage of food, science, or other items within specified 

temperature ranges

May need to store half or more of surface food supply in refrigerated or frozen form; may need to 

refrigerate or freeze fresh food; may need separate system to preserve life science and physical science 

(e.g. ISRU) samples 2F/C6

Trash and Waste Accommodation Stowage of trash or waste items Include treatment for biologically active trash and waste 2F/C9

Inventory Management Manual and automated tracking of all portable items in the 

spacecraft

Include design of RFID readers, machine vision, or other technologies into the spacecraft architecture

2F/C12

Equipment / Sample Sterilization Capability to sterilize equipment or local samples intended to be 

introduced into the ambient spaceraft environment

Incorporate into airlock or vehicle exterior

1F/3

Equipment / Sample Isolation Capability to isolate eqipment or local samples to prevent their 

introduction into the ambient spacecraft envrionment

Include transfer devices, bags, glove boxes, or other appropriate provisions

1F/10-11

Vehicle Lighting Interior and exterior spacecraft ambient and task lighting Maintain keep out zones for lighting; proper lighting intensity and mix of fixed general vs. task vs. portable 

lights. Exterior should also include navigation lights, searchlights, and beacons. ALL

Radiation Protection - don't preclude Protection from radiation sources, including ambient solar, SPE, 

GCR, and radiation emitted by samples or spaceraft equipment

May include localized protection within workstations, spacecraft closeouts, and/or surface features/terrain

2F/ALL

Odor Control Isolation, containment, or removal of odors from the spacecraft 

cabin environment

Capability should exist throughout the spacecraft, not just in trash storage enclosures and hygiene crew 

station PRE-INSTALLED

Intervehicle ventilation Circulation of breathable cabin atmosphere Consider vent and ducting design as part of cabin layout PRE-INSTALLED

Acoustic control and adsorption Maintenance of acoustic environment within tolerable levels Look at separation of quiet and noisy activities, acoustic blankets, etc.

Fire Response - don't preclude Fire detection and location, fire suppression, personal protective 

equipment, and post-fire recovery

Recovery may imply ability to isolate certain sections of the habitat from primary cabin air loop

PRE-INSTALLED

Toxic Atmosphere Response - don't preclude Toxin detection, removal, personal protective equipment, and postincident recoveryRecovery may imply ability to isolate certain sections of the habitat from primary cabin air loop

PRE-INSTALLED

Cabin Depressurization Response Depressuization detection, leak location, leak repair, personal 

protective equipment, cabin repressurization, and post-incident 

recovery

Cabin design must include ability to treat leak at any location on the pressure vessel and docked assets; may 

include both temporary and permanent repairs.

IMMEDIATE DEATH

Radiation Event Response Radiation detection, shelter protection, personal protective 

equipment, and post-incident recovery

Determine if SPE shelter is needed or not as well as other radiation monitoring approaches

2F/ALL

Crew Fatality Response Personal protective equipment, deceased crew member 

containment and isolation

3 body bags (crew size minus 1) must be stowed somewhere in vehicle; identify where bags would be placed 

if used; consider associated PPE, labels, etc. 1F/TOP

Spacecraft Evacuation Evacuation visual and auditory cues, crew member location and 

tracking, spacecraft safing for uncrewed operation, and postincident recovery

Consider steps and actions to abandon Mars surface outpost; include habitat safing needed to enable 

reentry by current or recovery crew

1F/3

Emergency Operations - ground 

based & some Mars scenarios

Mission Operations (Assume EVA 

is part of mobile asset or other 

chamber)

Planetary Protection

Logistics

Integrated Outfitting

Habitability Design Center

NASA Johnson Space Center