Artificial gravity has long been described in science fiction novels and featured in films like 2001 A Space Odyssey. Theoretically, the possibility of creating artificial gravity is not denied. However, the projects, which could be tested in space stations in the near future, practically did not reach. But very soon everything can change thanks to the efforts of the CU Boulder team.
Why artificial gravity is needed
In fact, everything is quite simple here and the essence lies in human physiology. The fact is that our bodies are designed in such a way as to exist when the force of attraction acts on all our internal organs and the musculoskeletal system. In the conditions of space stations, this effect, as you understand, is practically nonexistent, which in the future is fraught with the emergence of various health problems. And if the muscles and joints can be kept in good shape by exercising on special simulators, then the internal organs cannot be "trained" in this way.
How the installation for creating artificial gravity works
The developers themselves call the machine a "short-range centrifuge". The installation is a metal platform similar to a hospital gurney. A man lies down on it, after which the platform begins to rotate. At first it rotates slowly, gaining momentum over time.
Promotional video:
At the same time, during the development, engineers faced a very obvious problem: with a long rotation, a person begins to vomit. Is it possible to get rid of this side effect? As it turned out, you can. During the tests, by the 10th session, all subjects rotated comfortably in the centrifuge without experiencing any problems. The rotation speed was 17 rpm.
Why you can't use the installation right now
Before embarking on a full-scale test in space, scientists need to answer a number of questions. Namely, how long is the effect of learning to stay in a centrifuge fixed, whether this approach has long-term health consequences and, most importantly, how long an astronaut needs to take this "gravity bath" in order to compensate for all the negative effects of weightlessness. Once the feasibility and safety of the approach developed by the CU Boulder team is proven, the first working installation to create artificial gravity in space can be expected.
Vladimir Kuznetsov