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Bengaluru Company Tests Expandable Space Habitat Technology in Near-Space Mission
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What Happened?
Bengaluru-based Akashalabdhi Space has successfully tested an inflatable structure designed for future space habitats, reaching 30km in a high-altitude flight. The mission included two research payloads aimed at developing construction materials for lunar and Martian environments.
Key points
- The inflatable structure was tested aboard a high-altitude balloon to approximately 30km.
- The mission was conducted by Akashalabdhi Space in collaboration with TIFR's National Balloon Facility.
- One payload, the Microbial Regolith Experiment, aims to develop construction materials from lunar and Martian regolith.
- The second payload assessed the performance of perovskite solar cells in low atmospheric pressure.
- The structure absorbed landing impact better than expected, indicating potential for future missions.
- The next milestone is an orbital mission planned for March using Skyroot's Vikram-2 rocket.
Key insights
- The successful test enhances confidence in the viability of expandable habitats for future space missions.
- The ability to withstand landing impacts suggests improvements in design for recovery missions.
- Future missions could benefit from the data gathered on solar cell performance in extreme conditions.
Why it matters
This mission could pave the way for future construction technologies in space, potentially reducing the need for materials transported from Earth.
Tags
Entities
Akashalabdhi Space· CompanyTata Institute of Fundamental Research· OrganizationIISc· OrganizationSkyroot· CompanyVikram-2· Technology
Source
Times of India
