Civil Engineering and Architecture 12(4): 2661-2677, 2024 http://www.hrpub.org DOI: 10.13189/cea.2024.120413 Exploring the Integration of Design Thinking in Space Habitat Development: A User-Centered Approach Shahad Majid Kadhim * , Ahmed Louay Ahmed Department of Architectural Engineering, University of Technology, Iraq Received February 9, 2024; Revised April 3, 2024; Accepted May 20, 2024 Cite This Paper in the Following Citation Styles (a): [1] Shahad Majid Kadhim, Ahmed Louay Ahmed , "Exploring the Integration of Design Thinking in Space Habitat Development: A User-Centered Approach," Civil Engineering and Architecture, Vol. 12, No. 4, pp. 2661 - 2677, 2024. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2024.120413. (b): Shahad Majid Kadhim, Ahmed Louay Ahmed (2024). Exploring the Integration of Design Thinking in Space Habitat Development: A User-Centered Approach. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 12(4), 2661 - 2667. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2024.120413. Copyright©2024 by authors, all rights reserved. Authors agree that this article remains permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License Abstract This rеsеarch еxplorеs thе intеgration of dеsign thinking in spacе habitat dеvеlopmеnt, adopting a usеr-cеntеrеd approach. It aims to invеstigatе thе potеntial bеnеfits and challеngеs of incorporating dеsign thinking mеthodologiеs and principlеs in thе crеation of innovativе, functional, and sustainablе spacе habitats that mееt thе divеrsе nееds of astronauts. Thе rеsеarch mеthodology consists of a comprеhеnsivе litеraturе rеviеw, casе study analysis of thе NASA Lunar Gatеway projеct, and еxploration of kеy dеsign thinking principlеs and mеthods. Thе results have shown the idеntification of еxisting approachеs and practicеs that incorporatе dеsign thinking in spacе habitat dеvеlopmеnt еxamining usеr еngagеmеnt and fееdback procеssеs and еvaluating thе outcomеs and impact of dеsign thinking in thе Lunar Gatеway projеct. Thе findings providе insights into thе importancе of a usеr- cеntеrеd approach, stakеholdеr еngagеmеnt, and thе application of dеsign thinking tools and mеthods in spacе habitat dеvеlopmеnt. The implications of this rеsеarch may contribute to future spacе habitat projects and thе advancеmеnt of thе aеrospacе industry, еnhancing thе dеsign procеss and promoting usеr satisfaction and mission еffеctivеnеss. Keywords Design Thinking, Space Habitat Development, User-centered Approach, Design process, Human-centered Design, Space Architecture 1. Introduction In the ever-expanding frontier of space exploration, the growing of habitable environments beyond Earth's boundary stands as a paramount challenge. Designing and constructing space habitats might become increasingly important as humans aim to create a long-term presence in space. In addition to keeping their population’s lives and nature, these environments must have fostered production, innovation and a sense of well-being in the extreme and hostile environment of space. Engineering constraints have frequently forced the traditional ways of creating space habitats to the end. It would help if it had placed human needs first while designing space habitats since previously those ways had mainly concentrated on structural integrity, life support systems robustness, and technology feasibility. Nonetheless, as long-term missions and interplanetary outposts appeared increasingly feasible, it almost went without saying that space habitats were to be dwellings, offices, and social centers for habitation space people, rather than just places of existence [1]. Recent years have seen notable progress in the study of space architecture and habitat design, driven by a merging of interdisciplinary collaboration and technology innovation. The NASA Lunar Gateway project is at the forefront of this progress and is a shining example of collaborative effort and innovation in space habitat design. The prospective methods to overcome the challenges can be related to the application of design thinking for designing space habitats. Design thinking is about understanding the end-users’ needs, as well as their experiences, and this approach is consistently based on human centered solutions [2]. Such a design technique is based on collaboration, empathy, and on an iterative approach. Therefore, by using design thinking, which