General, Professional, Space, Texas

Where Space Meets Sustainability: Reflections from Ecosystem Space in Austin

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Last night I attended Ecosystem Space, a monthly happy hour hosted by the Space Workforce Incubator for Texas (SWIFT) and the Space Force Association, held at Capital Factory in downtown Austin. Part networking mixer, part brain trust, the event brought together technologists, government representatives, entrepreneurs, academics, and curious thinkers—each playing a role in shaping Texas’ place in the growing space industry.

At first glance, you might not expect a communications professional with a background in sustainability to show up at a space-sector event. But in reality, the overlap between space and sustainability is significant and growing.

Whether it’s using satellite data to monitor geographic data, designing closed-loop life support systems for long-term missions (i.e. water recycling and regenerative agriculture), or exploring how space design innovation can inform sustainable development here on Earth, the space sector is inherently about resourcefulness. It’s about doing more with less, often in environments where every ounce of energy and every drop of water must be carefully managed.

That’s why I was drawn to attend.

Selfie with a poster for an upcoming conference
Attendees at the Ecosystem Space event
The SWIFT and event support staff
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General, Personal Projects, Space

From Lone Dome to Lunar Dreams: Visualizing a Space Colony Glamping Experience

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What started as a simple prompt request for a “space glamping dome nestled in the Central Texas Landscape” evolved into a refined and realistic visual journey, one that perfectly aligns with the vision I’ve been developing for a unique edutainment experience: a Space Colony Glamping Business. The goal is to offer guests a “pick your own adventure” immersion into the life of a space colonist, right here on Earth. And what better setting than the captivating landscape of Central Texas surrounded by local excursions and seasonal urban events?

Through this iterative prompting process (Google Gemini), we’ve moved from a solitary glamping dome to a vision of a self-contained and interconnected colony habitat in the Central Texas landscape. The images now depict:

  • Multiple Geodesic Domes: Clusters of distinctive canvas and glass domes, suggesting comfortable and potentially luxurious living spaces.
  • Shipping Container Tunnels: These act as crucial connectors between the domes, creating enclosed pathways and a sense of a unified structure.
  • Greenhouses: Lining the shipping container tunnels, these suggest a capacity for food production and a degree of self-sufficiency within the compound.
  • A Large Central Dome: Serving as a potential communal hub or central facility within the compound.
  • Sun Shade Sails with Rainwater Collection: These practical additions hint at sustainable living and resource management.
  • Central Texas Landscape: The setting remains the rolling, often dry, yet beautiful landscape of Central Texas, providing a context for this unique habitat.
  • A “Space Compound” Feel: The interconnectedness created by the shipping containers and the presence of multiple dome structures evokes a sense of a planned and potentially isolated community, reminiscent of a small off-world base.
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General, Personal Projects, Rotator, Space

Space Colony Glamping Business

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After my years in conservation and sustainability, my dream of sharing these passions with others has developed into a more tangible concept. An immersive, edutainment space colony glamping experience! This is a culmination of my passions, my educational experiences, what I’ve seen on my travels, and what I’ve noticed trending in the market.

I wish I could say this concept it unique, however, given our advances in technology and number of people on the planet – others have had similar ideas. Great minds think alike, right?

One such example is “a Turkish town is preparing to set up a touristic “Mars Colony” that will allow earthlings to walk the surface of the Red Planet here on earth…which will also house a scientific theme park and 30 boutique hotels [and] “astronaut food menus” at the Mars Colony [which are] expected to breathe fresh life into gastronomy tourism as well.” – Daily Sabah

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.

Benjamin Franklin

Adding onto the concept of an immersive experience is the edutainment (education + entertainment) factor. The edutainment is very important to me so guests can learn aspects of conservation and sustainability while having an enjoyable and entertaining on-site experience!

You can see existing edutainment space experiences at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center® and at the Astronaut Training Experience® at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. There will be several experiential routes at the glamping space colony, which include different skill sets or professions needed for a space colony. Some examples include living-lab scientist, agricultural specialist, space engineer, interstellar soldier, or pioneering colonist.

“Self-professed teenage ‘space nerds’ at Space Camp chase their dreams of traveling to Mars, while experts reflect on NASA’s history and future at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.“
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