A specific design for a space colony is investigated, with emphasis on the engineering aspects of structural and systems design. The problem is first limited by the two assumptions of the colony location at the trailing Lagrangian point LS and the lunar Transport Linear Accelerator. Design criteria are developed to set the operational goals of the colony. A specific 1000-person prototype space colony design is proposed. Systems issues of hull shape and size, agricultural sunlight, radiation shielding, colony attitude control, atmospheric composition and pressure, temperature and humidity control, food production, and living space design are discussed. Structural issues of operational requirements, normal and abnormal loads, materials, fabrication techniques, hull design, stress analysis and sizing, fatigue, operational safety limits, and damage tolerance are investigated. The proposed colony configuration is modified as a result of preliminary technical analyses, leading to the final design of the MIT Prototype Space Colony. A construction scenario is proposed, including design of the construction site. Refining, manufacture, fabrication, and assembly are discussed, including mass, power, and manpower sizing of the machines required. Inspection and repair methods are presented. Transportation systems and vehicles are sized and designed, and program schedules are presented. Based on a yearly costing of 28 line items, total program costs are projected, both direct and discounted. Conclusions and recommendations for further research are presented. iii
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