NASA Architect’s Cricket Trailer Showcases Space-Age Design

The <a href="http://crickettrailer.com" target="_blank">Cricket Trailer</a>, designed by NASA Architect Garrett Finney, is a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2009/04/08/the-expandable-mobile-mini-house/" target="_blank">mini mobile home</a> inspired by the tight but efficient quarters of the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/03/04/nasa-to-launch-new-weather-satellite-in-space/" target="_blank">NASA</a> space station. Finney, who helped design the “habitation module” where the astronauts eat and sleep, took this knowledge and applied it to his cute little Cricket Trailer. Part <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2008/11/17/eco-camper-by-verdier/" target="_blank">VW Westfalia camper van</a> and part trailer, the Cricket packs a lot of features into a tiny space and is super lightweight to allow for more efficient towing.

The Cricket Trailer is a lightweight mini mobile home designed to be hauled by 6-cylinder vehicles and most 4-cylinder vehicles.

Garrett Finney, the man behind the design, is fascinated with small spaces - he was an architect working on the NASA space station.

Finney took his skills and experience from NASA to design the compact mobile unit. He certainly packs a lot into the tiny design.

The unit measure 15 feet long, 6'6" wide and 7'1" high and weighs 1,300 lbs unloaded in the Basic configuration.

Once parked at your location, the roof can be raised to provide more head room and windows can be unzipped for more ventilation.

The unit is fully customizable -- it can be outfitted with a plain interior or you can add a couch/bed, sink and stove, refrigerator, shower, more storage, an AC unit or a furnace, and more.

The sink and stove are covered by a hinged cover, and the shower sets up in the corner using a hand-held shower head that can also be brought outside to wash off other things, like muddy dogs or children.

When the stove and sink are closed there is a lot of counter space for food prep or other tasks.

The table can be moved out of the way and the couch can be folded down into a cozy bed when its time to sleep.

The trailer is made from aluminum, wood and steel and designed to be lightweight so most cars can haul it.

Two propane cylinders and a deep-cycle battery provide all the power you need.

Even the back door opens up to allow easy access to the back for loading and unloading.

The buyer can customize the items included in the trailer.