Discover the technology that could provide more natural spacecraft environments for future space exploration missions and space tourism

WORDS ROBERT LEA

D epictions of space travel in science-fiction are replete with scenes set on craft travelling through space with the occupants enjoying the comforts of simulated Earth-like gravity. This concept isn’t just limited to TV shows like Star Trek, however. Real-world researchers are working on methods to create artificial gravity in space. Not only would this simplify the next era of space exploration, making tasks more straightforward, but it is crucial for potential space tourism – and the need for artificial gravity goes beyond convenience.

The effects of microgravity in space can actually be harmful to humans, so as we look at longer crewed missions, including journeying to Mars, artificial gravity could be essential to our astronauts’ health. In his 1905 theory of special relativity, Albert Einstein said that gravity and acceleration are actually indistinguishable. That means that in a rocket travelling at 9.81 metres per second squared – the downward acceleration of gravity here on Earth – an astronaut would feel their body anchored to the floor just like it is on their home planet. The problem is you can’t always be accelerating at this rate during a real space journey or stay, especially if you’re onboard an orbiting space station. Fortunately, there is more than one form of acceleration – and by using centrifugal force we can generate something equivalent to gravity on Earth.