Space Colony Art: NASA’s 1970s Vision for the Future Space Stations
In the 1970′s, NASA Ames Research Center conducted studies which considered the possibilities of humans living in orbiting spaceships. Colonies were artistically designed and a number of futuristic renderings of the concepts were made.
Toroidal Colonies
Population: 10,000
Exterior view.
Cutaway view, exposing the interior.Interior view.Construction along the torus rim.Model of torus colony.
Bernal Spheres
Population: 10,000. The Bernal Sphere is a point design with a spherical living area.
Exterior viewInterior including human powered flightCutaway view of Bernal Sphere.Agricultural modules in cutaway viewConstruction crew at work on the colonyModel of a Bernal Sphere
Cylindrical Colonies
Population: Over a million.
Exterior view of a double cylinder colony.Interior view looking out through large windows.Endcap view with suspension bridge.Eclipse of the sun with view of clouds and vegetation.Multiple two-cylinder colonies aimed toward the sun.
