Human Migration to Space Alternative Technological Approaches for Long-Term Adaptation to Extraterrestrial Environments

Human migration to space will be the most profound catalyst for evolution in the history of humankind, yet this has had little impact on determining our strategies for this next phase of exploration. Habitation in space will require extensive technological interfaces between humans and their alien surroundings and how they are deployed will critically inform the processes of adaptation. As humans begin to spend longer durations in space—eventually establishing permanent outposts on other planets—the scope of technological design considerations must expand beyond the meager requirements for survival to include issues not only of comfort and well-being, but also of engagement and negotiation with the new planetary environment that will be crucial to our longevity beyond Earth. Approaching this question from an interdisciplinary approach, this dissertation explores how the impact of interior space architecture can meet both the physical and psychological needs of future space colonists and set the stage for humankind to thrive and grow while setting down new roots beyond Earth.

Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Current Directions in Space Exploration.- Chapter 3: Shifting from Habitation to Adaptation in Space.- Chapter 4: Alternative technological Interfaces with the space Environment.- Chapter 5: The Case for an Integrative Approach.- Chapter 6: Futures of Human Evolution.- Chapter 7: Conclusion.- Bibliography.

Liza Lockard is an Assistant Professor in the Environmental and Interior Design program at Chaminade University. She has a Masters in Architecture from Yale University and a Ph.D. in Futures Studies from University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. Prior to her arrival at Chaminade, she practiced architecture in the U.S., Vietnam, Switzerland, and Costa Rica, and previously taught at the University of Hawai‘i School of Architecture. Her current research focuses on how architecture could be used for future human space exploration needs.