Advisory Board

Dr. James Chartres

The COSMOS magazine article Self-sufficient space habitat designed said

Australian-led scientists have designed a new space habitat that might one day allow astronauts on the Moon or Mars to be 90 to 95 per cent self-sufficient.
 
The development of such as system could save billions of dollars in shuttle trips to re-supply lunar or space colonies and brings closer the vision of a human habitat on Mars.
 
The technology could also have applications on Earth to develop more sustainable farming techniques and improve recycling processes.
 
Some systems to recycle water and air have already been developed and rudimentary versions are presently used in the International Space Station (ISS). However, the proposed new lunar habitat “combines our existing knowledge” of physical, chemical and biological processes to provide an “overall picture of how a minibiosphere would work”, said James Chartres, an aerospace engineer at the University of Adelaide in South Australia. He gave a talk detailing the design at the Australian Space Science Conference held in Sydney last month.

James Chartres, Ph.D. was born in Adelaide, Australia and was interested in space flight and engineering from a young age. In 2004 he obtained a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronics from the School of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Australia.
 
In 2007 James earned his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering also from The University of Adelaide with the thesis Trajectory Design, Optimization and Guidance for Reusable Launch Vehicles During the Terminal Area Flight Phase. From 2005 to 2006 he was a guest researcher at the Institut für Raumfahrtsysteme, Universität Stuttgart, Germany where most of his PhD research was conducted.
 
He has also conducted research on advanced life support systems and habitats for the Moon and Mars. Including a joint study between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the International Space University (ISU) for the establishment of a long duration Lunar Habitat.
 
James has instructed university courses and workshops on Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) and Extra- Vehicular Activity (EVA) Systems.
 
James has presented his work at both national and international conferences. He has also been a guest speaker at the NASA Ames Research Center, the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Adelaide Section and the School of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Australia.
 
Read Optimization of the Terminal Flight Phase for a Future Reusable Launch Vehicle and Requirements for Mars Suit Design.