IISc Bengaluru Unveils BHEEM Habitat Moon Base Concept Larger Than ISS

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru published a concept for a modular BHEEM habitat for the Moon and Mars: 2130 m³ of living volume assembled from 422 flat panels of three shapes, more than double the ISS pressurized volume of 1005 m³. The panels fit in one Starship cargo bay (~800 m³), and the base is designed for a crew of 16 on missions longer than 6 months. It is an early architectural concept, not a flight-ready module.

• 2130 m³ versus 1005 m³ for the ISS — more than double
• 422 panels of three shapes and 7 joint types fit in one Starship
• Designed for a crew of 16 on missions longer than 6 months
• Safety margin about 3x: 393 MPa versus 1200 MPa for titanium