Digital Design for Crew Well-Being: Incorporanting Human Factors in Space Habitat Simulation

The astronauts’ well-being is a topic of growing interest not only for its impact on space missions but also for the development of the space economy, as outer space has become more and more accessible to diverse and heterogeneous groups of people. The development of design scenarios and the representation of possible future space habitats are being presented, both to specialists and to general audiences, with the use of immersive technologies that allow a more straightforward understanding of the new models of interaction with the design of a new architectural space environment, and the technological and infrastructure artifacts. A crucial aspect to consider when designing outer space modules is the microgravity condition for its effects on both physical movement and perception. In fact, in support of physical mockups, which represent the traditional method for design verification, the adoption of advanced digital tools, like VR/AR, is used and tested to substitute specific physical evaluations in design development. In adopting such design tools, several critical needs and issues emerge, such as the topological and geometrical complexity of objects coming from CAD modeling and the implication of converting CAD models into 3D objects that can be integrated within other real-time visualization and rendering software. In this sense, the need to develop new workflow pipelines to combine design, development, and production stages with VR/AR and real-time rendering technologies emerges. An in-depth study has been conducted on the current state of the art in TASI, where the VR lab is mainly occupied to fulfill the different demands on design simulations from space programs. One of the primary methodologies for assessing environments is using virtual mannequins with human features: these are introduced into virtual mockups to verify ergonomic requirements. At the same time, other systems were explored and mapped, which, on the one hand, focus on how virtual reality can enhance project development at various stages and, on the other hand, how virtual scenarios are used in different areas of space exploration, such as the use of virtual simulation for astronauts training of and human factors evaluation. In particular, this latter aspect emerges as a promising application of VR and immersive simulation, as sensory perception and physical-emotional aspects assume a central role in the future of outer space exploration.