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Space Architecture for the New Space Age
The Future of Living Beyond Earth
Establishing a sustainable human presence beyond Earth requires more than technological innovation—it demands new approaches to design, operations, and strategy. This intensive three-day course explores the principles of space architecture and habitability, the operational realities of human spaceflight, and the strategies shaping future exploration and the New Space Economy.
From Vision to Space Infrastructure
Participants will discover how architecture, human factors, technology, and business converge to enable sustainable human life beyond Earth. Combining expert lectures, case studies, and interactive workshops, the course provides both strategic insights and practical tools for professionals working at the intersection of space exploration, design, and innovation.
The program at a glance
| Language: | English |
| Tuition: | EUR 1,625,- (excluding travel and accommodation costs) |
| Certification: | Certificate from TU Wien |
| Registration: | If you are not yet enrolled with TU Wien Academy, please complete this application form, opens in new window and email it together with your CV including a portrait photo and a copy of your passport to compact-programs@tuwien.ac.at. |
| Dates: | Friday, December 4 – Sunday, December 6, 2026 |
- Fundamental Principles of Space Architecture and Habitability – Develop an understanding of the architectural, technical, and human requirements for habitats in space. Evaluate design approaches for creating sustainable living and working environments beyond Earth.
- Operational Requirements of Human Spaceflight – Gain insight into the operational and human challenges of long-duration space missions. Analyze the roles of crew organization, teamwork, and human factors in mission success, and understand how technical design and operational use influence one another in future mission planning.
- Strategies for the Future of Human Space Exploration – Explore the strategies and concepts guiding future exploration of the Moon, Mars, and cislunar space. Compare different mission architectures with regard to their technical and economic requirements.
- Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the New Space Economy – Analyze the opportunities and challenges of the New Space Economy for innovation and the development of sustainable space infrastructure. Understand the interplay between architecture, technology, human factors, and business in enabling long-term human presence beyond Earth.
The Learning Journey is designed for specialists, executives, and MBA participants interested in innovation, technology strategies, and international ecosystem thinking.
Benefit from the many advantages the program offers you:
- Application- and implementation-oriented content expands your expertise and equips you with the tools needed for professional success.
- Managerial reflection of the content allows for a deeper engagement with the concepts taught and their practical application.
- Exchange and networking opportunities during the trip and within TU Wien Academy open up new perspectives and valuable connections.
© Adobe Stock | Sasa Kadrijevic
Gain first-hand insight into life and work aboard the ISS.
© Adobe Stock | Kristina
Discover how future space habitats are designed.
Designing Space Today, Enabling Exploration Tomorrow
Daily Schedule
09:00–12:00 Expert Lectures
12:00–13:00 Lunch
13:00–17:00 Workshop, Case Studies & Discussion
Program
Day 1 : Space Architecture and Habitability
Sandra Häuplik-Meusburger
Designing human habitats beyond Earth: evolution of space habitats, lessons learned, habitability, isolated and extreme environments, commercial space missions, in-space manufacturing, and large orbital structures.
Day 2: Living and Working in Space. Operational Reality
Reinhold Ewald
An astronaut's perspective on daily life aboard the ISS, crew operations and teamwork, human factors, lessons learned from long-duration missions, and what engineers and architects often overlook.
Day 3: Expanding Humanity Beyond Earth
Brent Sherwood
Exploration architectures, mission design, lunar and Martian development pathways, the New Space Economy, and the transition from missions to sustainable human settlements.
