Leading Space Enterprise Unveils Interior Design Of World's First Commercial Space Resort

The unveiling of the interior design comes one week before the first annual International Space Business Assembly (ISBA) in Washington, D.C., where NASA officials will join with industry leaders to discuss the advancement of commercial enterprise in space. The unveiling also follows last week's bill that authorizes appropriations for NASA to identify the R&D necessary to adapt existing space technology for commercial use.

"As we rapidly approach the millenium, the idea of living comfortably and safely in space is quickly becoming a reality. Given the significant amount of support by both government and private industry, and the availability of proven technology, it's no longer a matter of how, but when," said Gene Meyers, president of Space Island Group. "With MyHome.com, we've taken the space resort concept to the next level by giving the public the opportunity to see just how livable space can be."

"The MyHome.com design team was honored to be selected by Space Island Group to bring our philosophy and experience to space: the ultimate palette for interior designers," said Steve Jennings, CEO of MyHome.com. "MyHome.com used its understanding of form and function to deliver a comfortable living environment for a brave new world."

Meyers said the space resort will be assembled by using external fuel tanks from NASA's space shuttle that will remain in orbit until at least twelve are assembled end-to-end to form a ring. Two additional tanks will be joined together to create a center column, with several small tubes connecting the outer ring with the center column. The resort will rotate at about one revolution per minute, creating one-third to one-half the gravity experienced on Earth. Dining, entertainment and living quarters will be in the outer section of the ring, with the center column offering a gravity-free experience to visitors.

Throughout the project, MyHome.com—an ecommerce site focusing on personalized home interior design solutions and products—addressed a number of challenges to provide space resort guests with a comfortable and functional living environment. The most important factors addressed in the design concepts include:

• Reduced gravity. Given the reduced gravity in the living quarters, the design team attached smaller and frequently used items to heavier ones, such as nightstands to the bed frame, and a bar and desk to the wall.
• Orbital shifts. To accommodate shifts of the resort to adjust its orbit, furnishings with soft edges, such as round tables and an oval bed, were selected to ensure the added safety of space resort guests.
• No windows. Given the resort's rotation of one revolution per minute, views from windows would pass too quickly and cause discomfort for the guests. To provide the effect of a window, the design team included a flat screen on two walls with a windowpane treatment. Video of space from cameras located on the center column of the space resort would be shown on the screens. For normal TV viewing, the windowpane treatment would slide up into the wall.
• Darkness. The lack of natural light increased the importance of lighting in the room. Equipment installed behind a crown molding along the ceiling of the room allows guests to select from a variety of colors to illuminate the walls and ceilings, creating an added level of personalization, warmth and comfort.
• Fumes. Air quality is an important issue for space living. In order to minimize emissions and interference with ventilation systems, the design team selected materials with low emissions, such as linen, cork and foam, for a variety of items, including floor, wall and furniture coverings.

The MyHome.com design team captain, Jennifer Bevan, an award-winning interior designer with more than 25 years of experience, led the space resort design team.

"Designing for space is a true combination of art and science. The MyHome.com design team was able to not only address the hurdles of living comfortably in space, but do so in a way that provides functionality of the interior design," Bevan said. "The room needs to provide the comforts of home, with the reality of space, in a way that both relaxes and excites the guests. The result was truly something out of this world."

The technology for the space resort structure has its roots in NASA's 1973 successful development, the SkyLab space station. However, because law prohibits NASA from conducting any type of commercial business, a private enterprise, the Space Island Group, will leverage this technology and help finance the construction of a space resort. Space Island Group will lease space shuttles and astronauts from NASA to aid in the construction.

Space Island Group and MyHome.com are continuing to work together to develop personalized and comfortable design interiors for additional rooms beyond the initial plans unveiled today for the space resort.

"The MyHome.com design team captured the true reality of what living in space will be like within the next 10 years," explained Meyers. "The team's goal to bring comfort, style and individuality to a home in space was fully achieved."

See design images:
Space Island Resort--Aerial View
Space Island Bedroom Suite--View One
Space Island Bedroom Suite--View Two

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Space Island Group, America's leading private space enterprise, is a consortium of aerospace engineers, educators, researchers and marketers dedicated to creating the world's first commercial space station. With the support of several international companies, NASA, government officials and private investors, Space Island Group anticipates completion of the first space resort within the next ten years. Additional information can be found at the company's Web site at .

Founded in the spring of 1999, MyHome.com (myhome.com) is a privately held company based in Pasadena, CA, offering the ultimate online shopping destination for home furnishings, fixtures and accessories. MyHome.com is the only company in its category to own all the items available on its site through a dedicated distribution warehouse that will eventually hold more than $10 million worth of products. With the power of both in-house and external interior designers, MyHome.com provides customers with continual access to new ideas, products and collections.

MyHome.com has received the benefit of funding, development, strategic guidance and creative support from idealab!, an integrated incubator for Internet businesses including ETYS and GOTO.