SELBE Research Institute
Artificial-Gravity Space-Settlement Ground-Analog Design Concept
The design concept of a modular and extensible 2G hypergravity facility is presented. Several benefits of this facility are described including that the facility is suitable as a full-scale artificial-gravity space-settlement ground analog for humans, animals, and plants for indefinite durations. The design is applicable as an analog for on-orbit settlements as well as those on moons, asteroids, and Mars. The design creates an extremely long-arm centrifuge using a multi-car hypergravity vehicle traveling on one or more concentric circular tracks. This design supports the simultaneous generation of multiple-gravity levels to explore the feasibility and value of and requirements for such space-settlement designs. The design synergizes a variety of existing technologies including centrifuges, tilting trains,roller coasters, and optionally magnetic levitation. The design can be incrementally implemented such that the facility can be operational for a small fraction of the cost and time required for a full implementation. Brief concept of operation examples are also presented
SELBE RI Comments
A strong case is made for aircraft carriers at sea. A strong case can also be made for aircraft-carrier class spaceships that generate artificial gravity. Before such spaceships are built for space, building rotating full-scale ground analogs that can be sustainably occupied by human, animals, and plants can be implemented for a minute fraction of the cost of a comparable space implementation. Also, the benefits of studying the effects hypergravity, e.g., 1.5-2G, has on life over the long-term can be better understood.
Hypergravity facilities show promise for a number of treatments including strength-training, osteoporosis mitigation, and weight loss among others.
A Princess of Mars by E.G. Burroughs was published in 1912. In it, the author speculated that a human on Mars would exhibit extraordinary strength compared to Martians living in 0.38G. There may be extraordinary benefits for humans and multi-generational populations of animals and plants living in a 1.5-2G environment. Conversely, humans that live on Mars for long period or are born on Mars will find a rotating facility that generates Earth gravity important for both their health and to make it possible for them to one day visit Earth.
NASA document 201600138152, Gregory A. Dorais, 2016. AIAA 2016-5388, doi.org/10.2514/6.2016.5388. NASA/TM 2015-218935. Video of AIAA Space conference talk:
