Habitat
	Development Hull design Internal Layout Docking Systems Life Support Power Systems Communications Anchoring

Development of the Torus shape:

Originally, we decided upon a set of interconnected spheres for the habitat. Spheres were originally chosen because they were the simplest shape with a circular cross section. Using this design, we quickly generated basic ideas for the layout of the structure. Each sphere would be divided into two floors. We then assigned each area one of the main specific purposes of the habitat: Biology Lab, Geology Lab, Docking (took an entire sphere), Control systems, Storage, Sleeping and Living. This required a total of four spheres and had enough space for a maximum of 8 people.

As more research was done, it became apparent that at least enough space for 20 people was needed. More importantly, there was need for twice as much space for the Biology lab as well as the Geology lab. Of course, since everything was based upon spherical sections, we simply tripled the number of habitation spheres (upper floor living, lower floor sleeping), and expanded the Biology and Geology labs so that they each had their own sphere.

However, we also realized the extent of reinforcement required at 3000 meters. Originally, the spheres were placed so that each would share a section of the two adjacent spheres. Through this overlap would be a basic door that separated the two spheres. Around the door would additional reinforcements to offset the loss of structural integrity due to the large hole created by the door. As we did more research, these reinforcements expanded as we learned how much compensation was necessary. It quickly became apparent that we were losing the efficient circular cross section that gave titanium its strength.

We then considered expanding the doorway since shrinking the size of the door ceased to have a significant effect. What evolved out of that thought process was the torus shape. The torus shape had us sold for two reasons: it preserved the circular cross section across the entire structure (greatly reducing the volume of titanium needed), in addition to allowing us to keep our design elevations.

By this time, we had also looked into the extent of the docking systems necessary. For the manned vehicles (LEEAMITe and EVE), we decided we need external docks. For maintenance of the robotics fleet, as well as delivery of various and sundry samples, we decided to have a single internal dock. By placing each docking system into its own sphere attached to the outside of the sphere, we completed the basic outline of the habitat's hull design.