Artificial gravity

[jatslo]

..."<font color="yellow">NASA, et al, had given up on the concept of simulated gravity enviroments.</font><br /><br />What makes you think that NASA has <font color="yellow">given up</font> If you have ever thought of the weapon potential of gravity, then you will know to not believe everything you read as well.

 

[spacester]

<font color="yellow">. . . . after all, they're (NASA) doing research into it right now.</font><br /><br />I do not think they are doing more than mere lip service to the concept. I would love to see a link proving me wrong, I last looked for such about three months ago. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[tmccort]

<br />jatslo, I think your confused. We are talking about artificial gravity, not anti-gravity.

 

[jatslo]

I never stated anti-anything. Gravity is Gravity; factor (F = ma), and centrifugal force is awkward. If anything exists, you can bet the farm that it is top secret.

 

[spacester]

That's why I like to use the term "Spin-Gravity" or "spin-g"<br /><br />This subject always gets sidetracked into unified field theory or whatever when all we're talking about is spinning a spaceship to simulate a gravity field. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[drwayne]

Hmmm, spin-g, I'll have to remember that. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[moonmadness]

Since you like to "do the math" could one surmise what if any would be the appreciable g-force someone might experience if they were standing on the earth-facing side of a platform in GCO tethered to the earth. ie space elevator. <br /><br />YO Adrian! Where's my Geritol (Rocky 6) lol <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>I'm not a rocket scientist, but I do play one on the TV in my mind.</p> </div>

 

[spacester]

Um, what is GCO? Do you mean GEO - Geosynchronous Earth Orbit? If so . . . <br /><br />GEO is at 35786 km altitude and the surface of the Earth is 6378 km from the center of the Earth.<br /><br />The strength of the local gravity field diminishes with the square of the distance from the center of the attracting body. So if we find the ratio of the altitudes:<br /><br />(35786 + 6378) / 6378 = 6.611<br />and square it<br />6.611 * 6.611 = 43.70<br />we can conclude that the local gravity field at GEO will be 1/43.7 times the strength at the Earth's surface.<br /><br />standard gravity at Earth's surface is 9.807 m/s^2<br />so the gravitational acceleration at GEO is<br />9.807/43.7 = 0.224 m/s^2<br /><br />Now the question is if I have answered your question.<br /><img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[moonmadness]

Correction GEO. Thanks<br /><br />Was interested in knowing the effects of the centrifuge force that holds the platform 'up' on a person on the platform. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>I'm not a rocket scientist, but I do play one on the TV in my mind.</p> </div>

 

[jatslo]

Spin is not required, and is, in fact, a perplexing problem that plagues NASA, because equilibrium is the desired state. The world as we know it will change, and macroeconomic impact will be biblical. I know how to stop spin.

 

[adriaan]

There is a NASA-related project taking place at MIT - The Mars Gravity Biosatellite Project (www.marsgravity.org), complete with a picture of the planned satellite and an explanation of what the mission is.

 

[vandivx]

I think the weightless effect on one's physique is overblown and it is more of an issue of being too over-carefull to the point that when we finally get somebody out there traveling to Mars, most of us currently living will be safely and securely dead LOL<br /><br />IMO if you excercise a bit on some specialized machines and or if you wear every day for few hours some specially constructed jumpsuit that would pull you by waist and shoulders to your boots (which would be part of the jumpsuit) by means of some rubber bands inbuilt into the suit, you'd be plenty fine to travel to Mars and arrive fit to explore it (mind you I know that wouldn't be the same as gravitation but would simulate it well enough for the needs) <br />I think that appart from physical fitness humans are ok living without gravitation, for duration of Mars trip anyway<br /><br />after all didn't people stay up for over six months in that mir space station? not sure about stays in ISS but that's been occupied for months at a time I think, those people there are fine aren't they? so what's the problem<br />I am inclined to think that creating ASG (artifical spin gravity) might create potentially more trouble than benefits - those effects mentioned here above resulting from too small spin radius nevermind more stuff that can break, malfunction<br /><br />vanDivX <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Saiph]

well, they are fine, but they do exercise a lot on specialized machines and when they get to earth again, they have problems standing, their bones are measurably weaker, prone to breaking, etc.<br /><br /><br />So...I don't think they've overblown the case, and the space agencies know exactly what they're dealing with. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p align="center"><font color="#c0c0c0"><br /></font></p><p align="center"><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">----</font></em></font><font color="#666699">SaiphMOD@gmail.com </font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">-------------------</font></em></font></p><p><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">"This is my Timey Wimey Detector.  Goes "bing" when there's stuff.  It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually.  I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- </font></em></font><font size="1" color="#999999">The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[spacester]

http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/artificial_gravity_and_the_architecture_of_orbital_habitats.shtml<br /><br />Effects of prolonged exposure to microgravity:<br /><br />fluid redistribution<br /><br />fluid loss<br /><br />electrolyte imbalances<br /><br />cardiovascular changes<br /><br />red blood cell loss<br /><br />muscle damage<br /><br />bone damage<br /><br />hypercalcemia<br /><br />immune system changes<br /><br />interference with medical procedures<br /><br />vertigo and spatial disorientation<br /><br />space adaptation syndrome<br /><br />loss of exercise capacity<br /><br />degraded sense of smell and taste<br /><br />weight loss<br /><br />flatulence<br /><br />facial distortion<br /><br />changes in posture and stature<br /><br />changes in coordination<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[yevaud]

I understand that recovering from this is hell. Some of the returning Astronauts and Cosmonauts were as weak as kittens. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>