Artificial Gravity: A New Spin on an Old Idea

Space.com ^ | 25 November 2004 | Leonard David

[demlosers]

The use of artificial gravity for long duration space missions is regaining serious investigation in laboratories around the world. Shown here is experimental work at MIT's Man Vehicle Laboratory. Image Credit: MIT Man Vehicle Laboratory

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[FReepaholic]

Uggg...makes me dizzy just looking at the photo.

[BookaT]

Any chance on just getting super dense material form somehwere and putting that at the core of a space station to stimulate gravity effects?

It should work theoretically but where can we buy that stuff?

[OSHA]

Any chance on just getting super dense material form somehwere ....

Try DU.

[Stirner]

A super dense material would be super massive. If it were created in orbit somehow, that wouldn't necessarily be a problem. But if it had to be lifted into orbit, enough mass to create useful gravity would be too expensive to put up there.

[Oberon]

Any chance on just getting super dense material form somehwere and putting that at the core of a space station to stimulate gravity effects?

Sure...but you'd have to have as much as a planet weighs in order to generate one G of gravity from it. Now imagine trying to boost that mass into space...

[beyond the sea]

Any chance on just getting super dense material from somehwere

The minorities in the Senate and House.

[Gumption]

Who would have ever thought something like artificial gravity would be necessary for long term space inhabitation?

[WestVirginiaRebel]

I read about one idea involving the use of superstrong electromagnetic currents run through a ship's hull to simulate Earth gravity. Any other ideas? Of course, we could just ask the Minbari...

[iceinject]

Wouldn't Starr Jones take a free Space trip? It could be a sweeps week special.

[Willie Green]

the Mars Gravity Biosatellite would carry 15 mice into space, spin them up to create artificial gravity.
finding the needed money to complete the estimated $30 million project has been a tough assignment.

Doh.

[demlosers]

A new tool in studying the role artificial gravity may play in countering the impact of long duration space travel on humans. This centrifuge design has been installed at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Image Credit: Wyle Laboratories

[demlosers]

Student designed and built Mars Gravity Biosatellite would study the effects of Martian gravity on mammals. The research would help evaluate long-term effects of microgravity on human space explorers. Artwork: The Mars Gravity Biosatellite Program (space.com)

[Southack]

"But large meant expensive, and also gave engineers design worries, Young related."

Nonsense.

They are all stuck in the 2001 Space Odyssey worldview of *indoor* gravity. That's complex.

But it's another thing entirely to spin a space-suited astronaut on the end of pole in outer-space. That's not complex. It's not heavy. It's not expensive.

It's just not indoors. The astronaut has to be suited, but we can give her 1 G of centrifugal force in outer-space.

[U S Army EOD]

If a propulsion system could be developed that would consistently accelerate at 1g for half the trip and then decelerate at 1g for the other half of the trip, then the problem would be solved. Of course to obtain the velocity you would need, you could accelerate at 3 or 5 g's for short periods of time. They only problem on this would be finding a propulsion system and a fuel to run it.

This would work if we can come up with the fuel and the motor and some very smart computers.

[Museum Twenty]

Just askin'....

How about a little less gravity here on earth?

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

After many years, I have concluded that a reduction in gravity is my best chance to lose weight.

Let's go, Science!

[robertpaulsen]

Once on the way to Mars, the ship separates into two compartments, each at the end of a 2000' cable (or truss). Start spinning to simulate either Mars gravity or Earth gravity.

The cable has to be long enough to reduce the Coriolis effect, and strong enough to support the "weight"

The non-rotating center of mass between the two could contain navigation and communication equipment.

Here's a link to a 300K movie.

[perfect stranger]

"I read about one idea involving the use of superstrong electromagnetic currents run through a ship's hull to simulate Earth gravity."

And wear metal suits?

[robertpaulsen]

Nah. Take lots and lots of iron supplements.