This week is primarily used for the preparations of the upcoming weekend parachute test but also for the ergonomic foam build-up on the seat for space capsule Tycho Deep Space.
Before the capsule seat gets a final snazzy black leatherlike fabric I have to create the ergonomic shape supporting the body of test dummy Randy. This is done using viscoelastic foam (also known as memory shape foam) as the medium between the raw main frame and the body which also provides basic dampening effect and coziness during flight.
I have different layers of foam from which I create blocks and parts to build up the shape supporting the body. It is a slow but fun process where I have to crane Randy up and down in order to validate the design and for finding the next step. I tried the seat myself today.... Very good. Zzz!
Within a week or so I hope to be done with this process and I will drive to the far end of Denmark (only four hours -- yes, it’s a small country) to deliver the seat for snazzy-coating at a professional furniture company called Krumnålen (the bent needle). These guys also coated the previous seat for spacecraft Tycho Brahe-1. They are doing an amazing job.
Previous seating designs
Tycho-Brahe-1 (2010)
This seat had to support one person half standing, half sitting for spacecraft Tycho Brahe-1 by Copenhagen Suborbitals, providing a great view from the top of the rocket while handling approximately 5 g acceleration, feet up. I built the main frame from basic carbon steel and performed the same visco elastic foam coating before it was finalized by Krumnålen.
Zero-gravity chair (2008)
This design was made for the future orbiting hotel “Sundancer” by Bigelow Aerospace. The basic design idea was to create a recreational “chair” for tourists in space during their time in LEO micro-gravity. It had to be lightweight, fit body sizes from 150 to 195 cm in all ergonomic aspects (50th percentile Japanese female body to 95th percentile American male) and make use of the zero-gravity body posture for chair support. Also, the seat had to be collapsible for low-volume transportation.
Crew Return Vehicle / X-38 (2001)
This design was done in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) who was a subcontractor to NASA on this Crew Return Vehicle (CRV / X-38) to be attached the International Space Station (ISS) replacing the Soyuz capsule for emergency situations. The project was canceled shortly after the design was done. The cabin had to hold seven passengers and comply with a 30-minute "back to Earth emergency scenario." Each passenger had to be able to grab any seat -- which is why the design was based on an ergonomic flexible system fitting any body type and height using vacuum bags with nonflammable foam pellets.
Inspirations this week: Selected Ambient Works 85-92 by Aphex Twin and paintings by Jan Van Eyck
Ad Astra
Kristian von Bengtson
