IISc Bengaluru Unveils BHEEM, a Flat-Pack Lunar Habitat Twice the Size of the ISS
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru have proposed a modular space habitat concept called BHEEM, designed to assemble 2,130 cubic metres of living space from just 422 flat panels — more than double the pressurised volume of the International Space Station. The concept is co-authored by Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla alongside researchers Mritunjay Baruah, Amogh Jadhav, and Bimalendu Mahapatra. BHEEM is designed to ship as a flat-packed kit fitting within a single Starship-class payload bay, with modules assembled on-site and each carrying independent life-support capability. The reference layout is intended to house a crew of 16 for missions exceeding six months, with scope for staged expansion into labs, a greenhouse, and medical facilities. The authors acknowledge it remains an early-stage architectural concept, with critical challenges such as radiation shielding, pressure sealing, and full-scale testing yet to be resolved.
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