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Design as an Astronaut: An XR/VR Experience of the Argonaut Habitat Unit

Authors Valentina Sumini , Cody Paige , Tommy Nilsson , Joseph Paradiso , Marta Rossi , Leonie Bensch , Ardacan Özvanlıgil, Deniz Gemici, Dava Newman , Gui Trotti, Aidan Cowley , Lionel Ferra

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Subject Classification

ACM Subject Classification
  • Human-centered computing → Visualization design and evaluation methods
Keywords
  • Argonaut
  • Lunar Habitat
  • Virtual Reality
  • Extended Reality Computational Design

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Abstract

This research explores the conceptual design of a lunar habitat integrated with the Argonaut lander, an autonomous lunar landing vehicle currently under development by an international consortium led by the European Space Agency (ESA). As Europe’s first lunar lander, Argonaut was conceived to provide ESA and relevant European stakeholders with independent access to the Moon. Although the lander is primarily designed to transport various types of cargo to the lunar surface, this study proposes its adaptation as a platform for future human habitation: the Argonaut Habitat Unit. The project is the result of an international collaboration between ESA, the MIT Media Lab, and Politecnico di Milano. Drawing on a wide range of methodological approaches, this paper reflects on key aspects of the concept, including its synergy with the existing Argonaut project, algorithmic modeling of a lunar habitat, consideration of technical requirements, and interior design development. The project addresses the spatial, material, and environmental constraints of lunar habitation through a combination of three-dimensional modeling software, computational design tools, and virtual reality (VR) development environments. The integration of VR offers an immersive understanding of the proposed habitat, enabling a first-hand experience of its spatial qualities. This approach supports both the evaluation and refinement of the design, enhancing its livability and practical feasibility.

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Valentina Sumini, Cody Paige, Tommy Nilsson, Joseph Paradiso, Marta Rossi, Leonie Bensch, Ardacan Özvanlıgil, Deniz Gemici, Dava Newman, Gui Trotti, Aidan Cowley, and Lionel Ferra. Design as an Astronaut: An XR/VR Experience of the Argonaut Habitat Unit. In Advancing Human-Computer Interaction for Space Exploration (SpaceCHI 2025). Open Access Series in Informatics (OASIcs), Volume 130, pp. 9:1-9:14, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025) https://doi.org/10.4230/OASIcs.SpaceCHI.2025.9

Author Details

Valentina Sumini
  • MIT Space Exploration Initiative, MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA, USA
  • Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Cody Paige
  • MIT Space Exploration Initiative, MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA, USA
Tommy Nilsson
  • Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology, Sankt Augustin, Germany
Joseph Paradiso
  • Responsive Environments, MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA, USA
Marta Rossi
  • Politecnico di Milano, Italy
  • Politecnico di Torino, Italy
Leonie Bensch
  • MIT Space Exploration Initiative, MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA, USA
Ardacan Özvanlıgil
  • Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Deniz Gemici
  • Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Dava Newman
  • Apollo Professor of Astronautics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
Gui Trotti
  • Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
Aidan Cowley
  • European Space Agency, European , Astronaut Centre, Troisdorf, Germany
Lionel Ferra
  • European Space Agency, European , Astronaut Centre, Troisdorf, Germany

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the MIT Space Exploration Initiative, MIT Media Lab, ESA European Astronaut Centre, ESA XR Lab, Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Torino, and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) for their support and collaboration. The authors are grateful to the 19th International Architecture Exhibition - *Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.* - curated by Carlo Ratti and organized by La Biennale di Venezia, for the invitation to exhibit this research.

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