NASA | DEEP SPACE SCIENCE VESSEL

My Role

Industrial Design and Human Factors

Team Members

Dr. Robert Howard
Owen Swischuck

Timeline

2020
10 weeks

Industry

Aerospace

The Challenge

“We know how small crews can live in space, how can we support larger teams on longer missions”

How might we design a science vessel capable of supporting a 48-person crew on long-duration deep space missions, ensuring both crew well-being and mission success?

The Solution

Taking a human-centered design approach, I focused on the complex web of interactions between humans, their environment, and technology. My design emphasized spatial efficiency, psychological well-being, and ergonomic harmony to foster collaboration, comfort, and long-term habitability in isolated conditions.
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I was responsible for six of the vessel’s twelve primary areas, working closely with another designer and the Director of the Center for Design and Space Architecture to integrate our individual modules into a cohesive, functional habitat system.

So what?

This work was presented to more than 60 engineers and scientists involved in the development of NASA’s Artemis mission designs.

_{It also served as the foundation for a research paper, co-authored by myself and the Director of the CDSA, which is currently published in NASA’s Technical Reports Server (NTRS)}

Read the paper

Reflection

This experience showed me that cross-disiplinary thinking is how we can build better systems for the future

Interning at the Center for Design and Space Architecture was a phenomenal experience. I not only gained a range of technical skills, but also saw firsthand how human-centered design and engineering can work hand in hand to solve complex challenges. It was inspiring to serve as the nexus between design and engineering as we shaped the next phase of human spaceflight.
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Email me at neha@sajja.com if you are interested in learning more details