Lowe_2004abstr

ON THE USE OF PATTERN LANGUAGES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CREWED MARTIAN SPACECRAFT AND HABITATS

James D. Lowe

jlowe@synapse.net

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to discuss how design pattern analysis and pattern languages can be used in the development of early Martian habitations, and to a lesser extent, to crewed spacecraft for a future Mars mission. Pattern analysis is a way of capturing design information and communicating it in a manner that makes it easy to use in development activities. It is also useful as an educational tool that can help students understand the multifaceted and interacting human requirements that factor into the development of human spacecraft. As well, pattern analysis can help form the basis of an open-source approach to spacecraft specification, and provide a means of systematically organizing many of the observations obtained from the Mars Desert Research Station and other Mars habitation simulation facilities.

A prototype space residence pattern language derived from the history of space station designs - parts of which are suitable for use in the specification of human-carrying Martian spacecraft - and a pattern language dialect derived primarily from the MDRS mission archives suitable for the specification of an early Martian surface residence, will be presented along with a sample pattern and a discussion on how to use the languages. These design pattern languages are continually developing and this paper only represents a summary and snapshot of where they stand today. Please refer to the space residence pattern language website [1] for further details and updated information.