• Question: What is the difference in the structure of a building in space compared to one on earth.

    Asked by gracehogben to Roma, Cathy, Jaz, Mark, Rory on 23 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by chloefarrell.
    • Photo: Mark Greaves

      Mark Greaves answered on 23 Jun 2014:

      Hi Grace,

      I think Roma will be able to give a good answer on this…she is our resident structures expert.

      I would say the biggest difference would be because of the different gravitational forces acting on the structure so you may need less or more material to support the same structure.

      Mark

    • Photo: Cathy Fraser

      Cathy Fraser answered on 23 Jun 2014:

      Hi Grace
      Good question! I think it would depend on the gravity affecting the structure – there would still need to be as much design involved as one on earth though!
      Perhaps Roma can tell us – it would be combining her favourite topics!

    • Photo: Roma Agrawal

      Roma Agrawal answered on 23 Jun 2014:

      Wow love the question!
      Gravity is definitely one. Temperature is another- things in space get very very hot then very very cold, that doesn’t happen to the same amount on earth.
      There is space debri (all the rubbish from satellites that don’t work anymore) which can crash into structures in space.
      Let me know if you can think of anymore!

    • Photo: Jaz Rabadia

      Jaz Rabadia answered on 24 Jun 2014:

      We’d need lights, water amd machinery to build too… not sure where they would come from…

    • Photo: Rory Hadden

      Rory Hadden answered on 24 Jun 2014:

      Hey,
      Great answers. I presume you would also need to account for the pressure differences between the inside of the building and the near vacuum of space. I would have no idea how you do that though – Roma?

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