The LIFE habitat is 27 feet in diameter and 27 feet long, including its vestibule. The LIFE habitat pressurized volume is 300 cubic meters, or about 1/3 of the pressurized volume on the International Space Station.

SNC’s LIFE habitat consists of three floors outfitted with everything a crew of four astronauts would need to live in space and perform science missions. This includes science labs, robotics work stations, medical and sick bay, sleep and hygiene quarters, galley, exercise equipment, SNC’s Astro Garden® plant growth system and ample storage room for crew supplies. (Our ground prototype only has two floors, because the bottom floor of the real LIFE habitat will be upside down on-orbit).

All of the air and water that crew need to survive in space is delivered by logistics carriers to the habitat. The habitat stores the delivered air and water. The LIFE habitat has life support systems that regulate the air to maintain proper pressure, temperature, humidity and oxygen levels. These life support systems recycle some of the air and water that is used to reduce the amount that has to be delivered to the habitat.

SNC’s LIFE habitat is being designed to support four crew living and working in space.

SNC’s LIFE habitat prototype has several soft goods layers.

• The outside layer is a Vectran fabric weave called the restraint layer, which is strong enough to withstand the internal pressure needed for the crew to live & work comfortably in space.
• The inner layer, called the bladder, is made of urethane which is designed to keep the air inside the habitat without leaking.
• The middle layer, called the liner, is made of nylon fabric. It presents a smooth surface to the bladder to protect it from being damaged.

The LIFE habitat has a woven fabric structural layer, called the restraint layer that is strong enough to withstand the internal pressure needed for the crew to live and work comfortably. Outside of the restraint layer is a multi-layer soft goods shield that protects the habitat from space debris such as micrometeoroids. The layers of fabric plus the internal outfitting provide ample shielding against radiation.

The LIFE habitat is designed to be launched on either the Space Launce System (SLS) or commercial launch vehicles.

The prototype is not going to space. SNC is making the full-scale prototype of the LIFE habitat to determine the best approach to constructing, inflating and outfitting the real LIFE habitat that will go to space in the future.

No, and we didn't copy it. It uses commercially available Vectran material and is based on ILC Dover's Tunnel Plug technology. SNC is partnered with ILC Dover to develop the habitat. ILC Dover has extensive experience in inflatable systems.