REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
The United Nations Space Agency (UNSA) is requesting proposals for the
design and construction of an orbital space colony (OSC).
The OSC has three missions:
To demonstrate that orbital space colonies can be self-sufficient communities
which provide residents with a high quality of life.
To demonstrate the economic viability of low gravity manufacturing processes.
To perform scientific research that can not be duplicated on Earth.
The OSC shall be located in orbit around the Earth or its moon.
RESIDENTIAL LIVING QUARTERS
The OSC shall provide comfortable living quarters for 1200 permanent
residents (of all ages) as well as living quarters for up to 200 visitors.
All living areas shall maintain a constant downward acceleration of 0.4
- 0.9 g.
The OSC shall provide a single contiguous volume of 10,000 m3 to be
used for low gravity manufacturing operations. The facility shall maintain
a constant acceleration of less than 0.05 g. UNSA will provide the manufacturing
machinery which will mass 5,000 kg and require 85 kW of electrical power.
The OSC shall provide 4,000 m3of volume to be used for science
laboratories. Half of this volume shall maintain a constant acceleration
of less than 0.05 g. The remaining volume shall maintain a constant acceleration
of 0.4 - 0.9 g. UNSA will provide the laboratory equipment which can be
expected to mass 3,000 kg and require 9 kW of electrical power.
The OSC shall provide at least 1,000 m3 of volume for medical
facilities. The medical center shall contain all equipment necessary to
maintain the health of residents and visitors. The medical center shall
maintain a constant acceleration of 0.8 - 0.9 g.
The OSC shall provide at least 200,000 m2 of area for growing
crops. This entire area must receive sufficient sunlight for plant growth.
Livestock pens may be used for domesticated animals. The OSC shall be completely
self-sufficient in terms of food production.
The OSC shall maintain the following environmental conditions:
The atmosphere shall be maintained free from pollutants. Healthy levels
of O2 and CO2 must be maintained through a regenerative
ecosystem including residents, livestock (if any) and agricultural crops.
Internal Temperature: 15 to 22 degrees C
Internal Pressure: Constant at 0.5 to 1.0 atm
Imports of lunar or cometary water are acceptable but must be minimized.
All water used on the OSC shall be recycled to the maximum possible extent.
All food consumed in the OSC shall be processed locally. A healthy
diet shall be provided for all residents and visitors. No food imports
from Earth will be possible.
The OSC shall be self-sufficient in terms of energy production. If
fission reactors are used, fuel rods may be imported from Earth. Renewable
energy sources are preferred.
The OSC shall be shielded from cosmic radiation and solar flares. Residents
and agricultural crops shall not receive more than 5 rem per year.
The OSC shall provide facilities for docking at least three spacecraft
simultaneously. At least one cargo loading bay shall be provided with a
doorway area of 30 m2.
The rotational period of the OSC shall not be less than 40 seconds.
The OSC shall provide appropriate space and equipment for the following:
workshops for manufacturing of locally consumed goods
shops for retail sales of consumer goods
warehousing for raw materials and consumer goods
office space for retail services
educational facilities for children and adults
chapel for religious services
machine and electrical shops for equipment repair
waste disposal systems
an Operations Center from which OSC functions are monitored and controlled
a communications center
Companies bidding on the OSC contract shall provide a proposal in the following
Summarizes entire proposal on one page. Gives the OSC a name and explains
why that name is appropriate for humanity's first permanent orbital colony.
Explains where the OSC will be located and why. Describes its orbit
in quantitative terms (velocity, period, altitude).
Explains what structural materials will be used, where they will come
from, how they are assembled, and why this approach was chosen.
Explains the shape of the OSC and why this shape was selected.
Explains, in quantitative terms, the rotation of the OSC, the central
force, and the amount of artificial gravity provided. Explains why this
rotation was selected.
Explains, in quantitative terms, what shielding is used and why.
Explain how environmental parameters (temp, air quality, oxygen, etc)
are maintained within the OSC.
Explains the layout of the Manufacturing Facility.
Explains the layout of the science laboratories.
Explains the layout of all agricultural areas. Explains which plants
and animals have been selected to provide a healthy diet. Addresses how
crops will be provided with all elements necessary for their cultivation
(sunlight, water, fertilizer, etc). Considers the effects of non-standard
gravity and radiation.
Explain the layout of all residential areas. Explain how space is allotted
to each crew member. Explain what a typical home/apartment is like.
Explain, in quantitative terms, how much energy the OSC requires, and
how it will be produced.
Explain how all other requirements of the General Specifications will
All drawings and illustrations in the proposal shall be on paper which
folds down to standard 8.5" x 11" size. Drawings shall include appropriate
All sources of information (including internet sources) shall be referenced
parenthetically in the text and listed in a bibliography at the end of
Plans for the OSC construction shall, whenever possible, rely on existing
technology. Proposals to use "future technology" should provide evidence
that such technology will be available by 2019, when construction is scheduled
UNSA PROVIDED RESOURCES
The UNSA lunar mining facilities and launch complex at Clementine Base
can be leased to provide raw lunar materials including water and regolith
products (sand, bricks, concrete).
If raw materials are mined from near-Earth asteroids, the metals processing
facility at the UNSA Space Station Freedom II may be leased to process
these materials into finished metal products.
UNSA cargo shuttles may be leased to carry equipment from Earth to the
OSC construction site. Due to high launch costs, the use of materials from
Earth should be minimized.
All personnel who participate in the design of the OSC shall be required
to spend one year on-board the OSC as technical advisors.
Mr.Young Contracts Officer
United Nations Space Agency
Astrid S. Ericson, Admistrator
United Nations Space Agency
Mungo U. Ugalavia
Secretary General of the United Nations
Author: Patrick Young
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