Design Limits on Large Space Stations

TL;DR

This paper reviews the various physical, human, and engineering constraints on the size of large space stations, especially rotating ones over 10 km radius, considering future technological advances.

Contribution

It systematically documents and analyzes the constraints on large space station design, highlighting the few that significantly limit station size.

Findings

Human limitations like gravity and radiation constrain station size.

Design constraints include material and geometry limitations.

Construction constraints involve approaches and historic examples.

Abstract

As the space industry matures, large space stations will be built. This paper organizes and documents constraints on the size of these space stations. Human frailty, station design, and construction impose these constraints. Human limitations include gravity, radiation, air pressure, rotational stability, population, and psychology. Station design limitations include gravity, population, material, geometry, mass, air pressure, and rotational stability. Limits on space station construction include construction approaches, very large stations, and historic station examples. This paper documents all these constraints for thoroughness and review; however, only a few constraints significantly limit the station size. This paper considers rotating stations with radii greater than 10 kilometers. Such stations may seem absurd today; however, with robotic automation and artificial intelligence, such sizes may become feasible in the future.