Why Are Astronauts Always Cramped into Small Spaces?

[Radrook]

Why do they cram them in like sardines in a can? I understand the matter of cost in getting things into orbit. But the way that they expect them to live for months is really a cruelty that is avoidable with a little more effort. IMHO

 

[Nithavela]

And how would this "little more effort" look like?

 

[Maddox]

Really ? One of the best paid, most hard to get , certainly the most glamorous job you could get is cruelty?

You said you understand the cost, but I doubt you really appreciate the costs involved.

In addition these people are naturally extremely well psychologically screened, conditioned and trained to weed out those with claustrophobic tendencies so I am sure they are not experiencing anything to level of discomfort you seem to imagine.

If people volunteered for submarine forces during wartime I am sure those astronauts with the level of support they are getting will be fine.

 

[Radrook]

And how would this "little more effort" look like?

Like in the film 2001 a Space Odyssey would be nice.

 

[Ophiolite]

I am reminded of the advertisement for a cabin cruiser: sleeps four, or nine close friends.

Seriously Radrook, you are applying your standards of acceptable living conditions to exceptional individuals who are highly motivated. You are also ignoring the fact that in micro-gravity one can make much more use of a given space.

 

[Nithavela]

Like in the film 2001 a Space Odyssey would be nice.

I don't think that would be practical. We can barely screw together a few aluminium cans and keep them in a stable orbit.

 

[Radrook]

I am reminded of the advertisement for a cabin cruiser: sleeps four, or nine close friends.

Seriously Radrook, you are applying your standards of acceptable living conditions to exceptional individuals who are highly motivated. You are also ignoring the fact that in micro-gravity one can make much more use of a given space.

You don't consider being able to touch both sides of the walls at the same time cramped? Or having to look at all those wires sticking out all over the place avoidable? Yes, I am aware that they are exceptional and are trained to deal with those conditions. But please note that anything that can be done to make life a little easier on humans psychologically during long duration periods in space will greatly improve the chances of the mission's success which depends on a great part on human ability to function normally under extremely unusual conditions. So some things should definitely be improved in the psychological effect that the spacecraft itself has on its occupants area.

 

[Radrook]

I don't think that would be practical. We can barely screw together a few aluminium cans and keep them in a stable orbit.

I'm sure that the appearance of those extremely ugly space station walls can be improved and that a little more space can be provided. The main problem is funding and skimping due to the lack of adequate funding.

 

[Widlast]

Why do they cram them in like sardines in a can? I understand the matter of cost in getting things into orbit. But the way that they expect them to live for months is really a cruelty that is avoidable with a little more effort. IMHO

Because ever ounce sent up their costs a fortune.
NASA isn't made of money.

 

[Ophiolite]

Or having to look at all those wires sticking out all over the place avoidable?

For Pete's sake, most of them are engineers. They like wires sticking out all over the place. They can look out a window and see the Earth turning beneath them. If you want to see cramped, look at pictures of the now defunct Mir. Look at the interior of the Apollo capsule. The ISS is palatial by comparison.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

But please note that anything that can be done to make life a little easier on humans psychologically during long duration periods in space will greatly improve the chances of the mission's success which depends on a great part on human ability to function normally under extremely unusual conditions. So some things should definitely be improved in the psychological effect that the spacecraft itself has on its occupants area.

Seems to me that you are just assuming that these "psychological problems" exist.


But to answer your OP question: money. Luxury things that seem trivial here on earth, really aren't that trivial "up there".

 

[Larniavc]

Why do they cram them in like sardines in a can? I understand the matter of cost in getting things into orbit. But the way that they expect them to live for months is really a cruelty that is avoidable with a little more effort. IMHO

They are all over 6'6" tall. The space ships are the right size for people of average height.

 

[Radrook]

They are all over 6'6" tall. The space ships are the right size for people of average height.

Really? So that's why they look like they are packed like sardines?

 

[Larniavc]

Really? So that's why they look like they are packed like sardines?

I see your point. It could however be a combination of prodigious height and them being nearer than you expect with the space ship being further away than you imagine.

This could be nothing more than an optical illusion.

I do however think that the boffins at NASA would have some protocol to self correct these two issues.

 

[Radrook]

Seems to me that you are just assuming that these "psychological problems" exist.


But to answer your OP question: money. Luxury things that seem trivial here on earth, really aren't that trivial "up there".

No I am not just assuming that they exist. Close proximity to other humans during long periods of time within extremely limited space is a understood to be one of the biggest problems that astronauts will have to deal with in a long duration voyage such as the one that is necessary to reach Mars. This is constantly brought forth by NASA representatives in scientific documentaries concerning the obstacles that need to be overcome if we are ever to get there.

Cramping people seems to be the preferred way:

 

[iluvatar5150]

I'm sure that the appearance of those extremely ugly space station walls can be improved and that a little more space can be provided. The main problem is funding and skimping due to the lack of adequate funding.

Really? You're sure? How are you sure? Have you ever known anyone who's worked on a space program like ISS or the shuttle? Have you asked them about their work?

They are all over 6'6" tall. The space ships are the right size for people of average height.

You're kidding, right?

 

[timewerx]

Why do they cram them in like sardines in a can? I understand the matter of cost in getting things into orbit. But the way that they expect them to live for months is really a cruelty that is avoidable with a little more effort. IMHO

It depends on who you are bunking with....

If you're bunking with people who listens to their tunes at max volume to the wee ours or take skype call into the wee hours, life would be hell because those people would also be lacking severely in the empathy department.

If you're bunking with people with high levels of professionalism, well demeanored and with high levels of empathy. Then life's gonna be great even if it's tight.

I've lived for two years in a small room sharing six people with it, worse, without a view. It's even worse than a submarine because the food is horrible. As I've said, do it with people with little to no empathy, it would be like prison. Spend it with with nice and sensitive people, then it can be quite fun.

 

[Radrook]

Really? You're sure? How are you sure? Have you ever known anyone who's worked on a space program like ISS or the shuttle? Have you asked them about their work?




You're kidding, right?

I don't need to know anyone personally anywhere to see that the appearance of that space station interior is extremely depressing and an eyesore that has to be endured unnecessarily and that it doesn't take a rocket scientist to improve it.

 

[Ophiolite]

I don't need to know anyone personally anywhere to see that the appearance of that space station interior is extremely depressing and an eyesore that has to be endured unnecessarily and that it doesn't take a rocket scientist to improve it.

Sorry Radrook. I thought you were smarter than that. You are projecting how you would react in those circumstances onto others and everyone. I find the pictures of the all that equipment surrounding one absolutely brilliant. I would love to be in that environment. The difference is that I understand not everyone would like it. You should try to reach a similar accommodation with reality.

 

[mnorian]

It cost from $43k to $27 per LB to send stuff to the space station; you make it bigger the weight goes up by a factor of square ft/cubed:

Orbital Science's Cygnus spacecraft costs about $43,180 per pound to send things up, dividing the $1.9 billion contract by the maximum 20 metric tons of cargo the company is supposed to supply.

For SpaceX — the cheapest of NASA's new carriers — dividing the cost of each launch ($133 million) by the cargo weight of its most recent resupply mission (5,000 lbs.) gives you about $27,000 per pound.

And this doesn't looked cramped; more room then we had in our army barracks; when you add 30 guys:

Here's how much money it actually costs to launch stuff into space