Artificial Gravity and SpaceX

Oldfart1939 · 2021-11-30 10:51:10

An OK video and is speculative: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSDhfggzD64

Mars_B4_Moon · 2021-11-30 10:55:07

Seems like he's going to Mars, there's only one reason to do this or is there? or maybe he just wants to spend a lot of money to recreate that Station scene from 2001 Space Odyssey?

Void · 2021-11-30 12:07:22

Actually, there is a lot of information that should be wanted.

-How does biology react to Lunar gravitation.
-How does biology react to Mars gravity simulation and gravitation of Mars.

While the Moon is close, then testing on the Moon may be sufficient.
However for Mars, there would be a good case for simulating Mars gravity in LEO of Earth.

People could just be sent to Mars, and eventually things would be learned.

However, while scouting and setup on Mars can reveal some information, likely any humans there will not have time for a lot of biological science.

A Mars simulation in LEO, would permit same time testing of biology and perhaps industrial processes, in a Mars similar environment as per gravity. It is possible that the first visitors to Mars will not stay there, if the information comes back that medical problems are too negative.

The results could be anything from "You will be just fine", to "With special care, you can be there", to you are going to need more gravity than what Mars provides.

If a need for more gravity will exist, then centrifuges on the surface or in orbit of Mars will be required. It might be that adults can spend extended time on Mars without centrifuges, but then it may be that gestation and childhood require special treatments on Mars.

While the SpaceX shipyard is building multiple Starships, until a launch to Mars date, those ships could and should be in use for missions to LEO. Zero G space stations. Synthetic gravity space stations. Some will be zero G factories, and some will be to test partial gravity for biology and industry.

If I understand G.W. Johnson, a single starship should be able to spin like a baton, and achieve up to .5 g, in a manner consistent with human toleration.

My guess is that if you joined two of them butt to butt, you should be able to simulate ~0 to 1g.

Once the minimum needs gravitation is established, then SpaceX would have a product in orbit, where they may be able to recondition humans in orbit, who have had prolonged zero g exposure. That could be of value.

And yes, eventually it may become a desire to have partial gravitation for trips to Mars. I am going to guess that they will skip over it for the first expeditions.

The first uncrewed ships may have some biological tests on board for most of the trip, and then perhaps before the Mars expedition(s), to
eject them. However, such a public, aware of this, it may be troublesome to calm the public about the deaths of test animals such as mice, even though that goes on all the time on Earth.

Done.

Last edited by Void (2021-11-30 12:24:31)

GW Johnson · 2021-11-30 14:42:10

If Musk decides to do tether spin of 2 Starships, one might be the crewed vessel, with the other an unmanned cargo vessel. My guess is he will find a way to couple the ships to the tether at their nose-tips, despite the heat shield tiles there. That way the crew decks have the same "up" as when sitting on the pad. If you use a 100 m long tether, from cg to nosetip is 50 m, and another 6 m puts you just about the cargo hold deck in the crewed vessel. That's a 56 m spin radius. 4 rpm spin rate gets you 1 full gee at that cargo deck, a little less higher up toward the nosetip (0.89 gee at the tip). Spin slower at 2.48 rpm to get 0.38 gee at that same cargo deck.

GW

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#1 2021-11-30 10:51:10

Artificial Gravity and SpaceX

#2 2021-11-30 10:55:07

Re: Artificial Gravity and SpaceX

#3 2021-11-30 12:07:22

Re: Artificial Gravity and SpaceX

#4 2021-11-30 14:42:10

Re: Artificial Gravity and SpaceX

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