Re: Low Cost Housing Modules?

- - The original note follows - -

From: Jon Hendrix <73323.2366@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Low Cost Housing Modules?
Date: 7 Oct 1994 18:16:04 GMT

In 1984, I made a proposal to NASA for a space structure. The struscture was
accepted for funding in the ongoing space station budget, but was forgotten when
the shuttle exploded and funds had to be dirveerted for a new one.

The structure was composed of two walls (inner and outer) of thin membrane
material. In the collapsed state, the material occupied only a small amount
of space and was very light. When transported to space, it would be expanded
by filling the inside with oxygen. Once filled to capacity (it may be any
shape), the sandwich wall was filled with a styrofoam type material and when
allowed to cure, the structure would maintain it's shape, even if all the oxygen
were vented. NASA was interested in utilizing the idea to build tunnels from
or through the structural parts of the station, as a shield against debris and
as a life pod for astronauts stranded during EVA.

The same process may be used on Earth by substituting materials, such as
burlap sack material for the sandwich walls and regular styrofoam as the
material to be injected into the walls after the BLATTER is inflated. This
could be done in the field using simple equipment and the walls can then be
adapted by simple hand tools (saws and such) Erection time and curing should
take no more than 45 minutes and the materials can be air lifted easily to
any location as a temporary or permanent structure (depending on the types
of materials and foams used).

At my last visit with NASA, they were still interested in the space ideas. My
idea was to build a structure, shaped like a ball which would be large enough
to enclose and protect the whole space station. It was seriously considered.

Jon S. Hendrix
Orbital Structures Company
P.O. Box 360
Dallas, TX 75001
E-Mail to me via Compuserve.
Daniel Inayat von Briesen <div7w@xxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
> In article <36tt0o$4ru@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> David Chapman,
> davidide@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
> >Looking for inovative, low-cost (very) construction concepts for housing
> >displaced, homeless, American families. The same units could have major
> >application as small housing modules for worldwide disaster relief.
> >We have sources of private and corporate foundation money for this
> project.
> >Any ideas?
>
> While it may sound silly, it seems that we often neglect the obvious. I
> was at sam's club teh otehr day, and they sell these things for dogs that
> look like little igloos. THey are molded of hard but thin plastic with a
> separate base. If done in quantity and on a larger scale (the size of
> say, a really big camping tent) incorporating clear plastic for light and
> solar heat and modular design for linking (as well as methods for
> interchangeable bunks/shelves/desks/tables) would seem to be fairly
> straighforward. I stayed in an efficiency apartment in Los Alamos last
> summer, where two doors open to reveal a one piece stainless-steel mini
> kitchen with a sink, drain, fridge and stove all together. This would
> leave only a similar set-up for the bathroom. Each module could have a
> universal hook-up, which would have cables/hoses for water, electricity,
> and possibly hot water and gas. They would use those quick connects like
> the air hoses in garages or on railroad cars. By building matching
> "nesting" shells, one can create an airspace for insulation between the
> walls, and each shell could have fixtures standardized for lifting by
> crane, and for internal lighting and sockets (for power and water.)
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