Definition, future technology, and study on artificial gravity

 

Artificial gravity has the potential to transform space exploration and off-planet tourism.

The generation of an inertial force in a spaceship to simulate gravity is known as artificial gravity. This concept is frequently seen in science-fiction shows such as "Star Trek," but it is not confined to them, and researchers are now working on ways to manufacture artificial gravity in space.

Artificial gravity would not only simplify the next era of space research by making work easier, but it would also be critical for eventual space tourism.

Because the consequences of microgravity in space can be harmful to humans, artificial gravity may become increasingly important as we consider longer crewed trips, such as expeditions to Mars.

Albert Einstein claimed in his 1905 theory of special relativity that gravity and acceleration are identical. That means an astronaut would feel tied to the floor in a rocket travelling at 31.19 feet per second (9.81 metres per second) squared — the downward acceleration of gravity on Earth — just as they would on their home planet.

The problem is that in space, especially in an orbiting space station, you can't always accelerate at this rate. Fortunately, there are several types of acceleration, and we can manufacture something similar to gravity on Earth by employing centrifugal force.

The use of a technology known as an O'Neill cylinder could be one technique to create artificial gravity in space. This consists of a pair of huge cylinders that rotate in opposing directions, allowing them to remain constantly aimed toward the sun, mimicking gravity, and is named for the physicist who proposed them, Gerard O'Neill.

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Blue Origin, has proposed O'Neill cylinders as the foundation for floating space colonies, allowing trillions of people to dwell in space.

Apart from being a long way from any form of practical application, O'Neill cylinders are far too large for most purposes smaller than space colonies, at 20 miles (32.2 kilometres) long and 4 miles (6.4 kilometres) in diameter — designed to hold several million people.

 

 

Researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder(opens in new tab) have proposed a smaller size solution: rotating systems that could fit inside spacecraft chambers.

 

While this wouldn't create artificial gravity for the entire craft or station, it would allow space travellers to retire to a specified location and spend time in a gravitational environment similar to Earth's.

The device also employs centrifugal acceleration, with astronauts lying down on a short-radius centrifuge for a rapid spin, simulating a gravitational field of 1G, the same as on Earth.

However, spinning astronauts may not be the best approach. As anyone who has ridden the teacups a few times will attest, this method has its own set of health risks.

A long spinning stick-like vehicle roughly 328 feet (100 metres) across with a nuclear reactor on one end and a crew compartment on the other for voyages to Mars is another proposed concept for creating artificial gravity. However, engineering issues have prevented their implementation.

Artificial gravity could be crucial in keeping humans healthy on long-duration space trips. NASA's Human Research Program (HRP) has been studying the effects of microgravity on the human body for five decades.

They discovered that without the gravity of Earth, weight-bearing bones lose 1 to 1.5 percent of their mineral density per month in space. Muscle mass is lost at a faster rate in microgravity than on Earth.

In addition to these factors, fluids in the human body can migrate upwards in space, placing pressure on the eyes and perhaps causing vision problems.

Voyager is a projected revolving wheel space station that will begin construction in 2025. Voyager, developed by the Orbital Assembly Corporation (OAC), would differ from the International Space Station in two major ways: it will be open to the public and will have artificial gravity.

The space hotel, which will be sent into low-Earth orbit, will rotate quickly enough to provide artificial gravity for its 400 guests. If everything goes according to plan, the station will be the largest man-made structure ever put into orbit.