Morphology of polyhedral space habitat modules – Identifying the ideal form using multi-criteria analysis.

Over the past fifty years, the form and function of space habitat modules have remained largely unchanged. While cylindrical modules are relatively simple to transport and deploy, their limited size poses a challenge to their efficiency and usability. In contrast, large space habitat construction projects are costly and present logistical difficulties. The development of polyhedral modules could bridge the gap between these two approaches, allowing for modular, polyhedral units to be assembled and linked together to create larger habitats more efficiently and with less risk. However, identifying the most suitable polyhedron for use in space remains a critical question. Previous research has explored the construction of polyhedral modules, but little rigor has been applied to identifying the most optimal form. This is a crucial issue because the first module to be used will likely set the standard for subsequent modules and any disadvantages present at that time will be perpetuated. Therefore, it is essential to identify the optimal form prior to constructing prototypes. This research paper employs multi-criteria decision analysis and sensitivity analysis to compare various candidate polyhedra across several evaluation metrics, including number of faces, volume to surface area ratio, and joint stress, among several other quantitative and qualitative metrics. The results demonstrate that the Rhombic Dodecahedron is a particularly suitable candidate compared to other forms analyzed. Thus, the Rhombic Dodecahedron should be considered the standard polyhedral form for future research involving the development of polyhedral modules. • Rhombic Dodecahedron identified as optimal polyhedron for space habitat design. • Polyhedral modules surpass cylindrical counterparts in multiple criteria. • Novel multi-criteria analysis method allows cross-metric comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]