Emily Suzuki
Humans have been venturing into space for over 50 years, primarily focusing on how humans can survive the harsh conditions. Copenhagen-based SAGA Space Architects, led by co-founder and lead architect Sebastian Aristotelis, however, is more focused on creating stimulating and healthy habitats for long-term space settlements. After all, comfort is key to a happy life and will be crucial for permanent settlements on the Moon and Mars.
SAGA’s latest habitat is set to train European astronauts for lunar missions over the next 20 years. It will be one of the most heavily used space training facilities globally.
3D printing in space
Space architecture presents a unique set of constraints, distinct from regular architecture. The complexity of designing space habitats requires meticulous planning, where every bolt, wire, and device placement is crucial.
SAGA employs several novel manufacturing methods to bring its homes to life, including a unique way of approaching 3D printing. They’re exploring the logistics of sending 3D printers up to space and using local materials for on-site construction. This method allows astronauts to print the necessary structures on the Moon or Mars, facilitating immediate habitation and eliminating the costly, laborious, and wasteful process of sending materials from Earth into space.
Leveraging Autodesk Fusion for complex design collaboration
The transition to Autodesk Fusion has been a game-changer for SAGA. Fusion allows SAGA to create full digital replicas of their designs before bringing them to life. This digital-first approach ensures precision and aids in comprehensive compliance reviews, which are critical given the immediate consequences of errors in space. “[In Fusion], we can [even] do renderings and also do CAM programming for CNC machines or to generate tool paths for 3D printers,” says Aristotelis.
Elevate your design and manufacturing processes with Autodesk Fusion
Another standout feature of Autodesk Fusion is its ease of use, even for non-technical team members. Through shareable links, stakeholders without 3D modeling expertise can review models, understand proportions, and assess functional aspects like cable tray sizes. This inclusivity enhances collaboration and ensures that all team members can contribute to the design process.
“Sitting and designing when every single little bolt, wire, cable, and device needs to be exact can be quite complex to keep track of. We are very happy that we started switching to Fusion because it’s the perfect tool for collaborating with several people on a complex geometry that has a lot of different requirements that need to be fulfilled.”
—Simon Kristensen, co-founder and software developer, SAGA Space Architects
Autodesk: Integration from design to reality
In addition to Fusion, the SAGA team also leverages Autodesk Revit for documentation and compliance, enabling the team to transition from concept to reality without switching platforms. “For the first time, we have one family of software that allows us to go from zero to 100.” This unified approach is pivotal for maintaining quality and adhering to regulations.
“SAGA can exist now as a small company doing pretty ambitious projects because of the technology we have,” says Aristotelis. “We wouldn’t have been able to do this 10 years ago, 15 or 20 years ago. I know in the morning, when I go to work, that in this environment we can do anything. The people here, the tools we have, the machines we have, the software we have—if I have a dream in the night, then I know my team can build it the next morning. That power and freedom is everything I ever wanted.”