Noordung’s “Wohnrad” and the Evolution of Rotating Space Stations

Abstract

The drawings of a rotating space station, introduced by Hermann Potocnik, known as Noordung, in his book The Problem of Space Travel in 1929, mark a milestone in the history of spaceflight concepts. While scientists and rocket engineers like Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Hermann Oberth and others had already discussed the concept of such a station in the 1880s, Noordung presented the first detailed drawings of the spatial concept in his book. These ideas have propelled many of other interesting concepts for rotating space stations. This paper provides an overview of the rotating wheel-shaped space station concept, with a special attention to the ‘Wohnrad’ and its interior architectural design. It also provides the information about its historical context and reasons for its emergence. The paper also examines the dissemination of this concept by figures such as Wernher von Braun and the artist Chesley Bonestell, who promoted the vision of such a station to the general public in the 1950s.