Blowing up: Inflatable space habitats could be key to exploring the solar system

[Admin]

Private companies are making progress on expandable habitats, which could help humanity keep its foothold in Earth orbit and settle the moon and Mars.

Blowing up: Inflatable space habitats could be key to exploring the solar system : Read more

 

[Unclear Engineer]

This inflatable technology, plus the development of technologies to use local materials like lunar regolith and Martian soil to create overarching structures for radiation and meteorite impact shielding, seem to be the way forward for surface based structures off-Earth.

But, I am wondering about the discussion of designing flexible airlocks. Why do the airlocks need to be flexible? It seems like they could be rigid and still fit into normal fairings for launch vehicles. And, their structural stability is absolutely vital to their ability to perform their mission purpose.