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Will the future Russian space station be able to create its own artificial gravity? | Photo: MARK GARLICK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images
Russian state rocket company Energia has been awarded a patent for a new spacecraft architecture designed to create artificial gravity, a capability that could give a huge boost to long-duration manned missions.
A report Russian state media outlet TASS, which received the patent, said the rotating system is designed to produce a gravitational force of 0.5 g, or 50% of the gravitational force. Earth's gravity. Patent documentation includes illustrations of a notional space station design with a central axial module with both static and rotating components, with the modules and habitats connected by a sealed flexible connection.
Radially attached habitable modules would rotate around this axis to simulate gravity for the crew, creating a centrifugal force pushing outward. To produce 0.5 g, they would need to spin at five revolutions per minute and have a radius of 131 feet (40 meters). A space station of this size would require multiple launches of each module, which would then be assembled in orbit.
The documentation notes the lack of need to spin up and coordinate the turn of transport ships to dock with the station, which, as noted, reduces the safety of using such a station.
Creation artificial gravity could have profound implications for crews on long-duration space missions, whether in low Earth orbit or on interplanetary journeys into deep space. Exposure to microgravity has numerous consequences for astronauts, including muscle atrophy and loss of bone density.
Illustrations for a patent for an artificial gravity space station submitted by the Russian state rocket company Energia. | Photo: RSC Energia.
NASA has developed concepts such as the spinning wheel Nautilus X space station concept, and more recently commercial firm Vast said it would pursue artificial gravity stations.
Russia has not indicated either the time frame for the implementation of such a project or the resources for its development. However, the patent indicates interest in the concept of artificial gravity at a time when the end International Space Station (ISS) is approaching and new national and commercial station plans are being developed.
Currently, NASA and Roscosmos plan to deorbit the ISS in 2030. using a modified SpaceX Dragon capsule to push the station into a fiery death over the Pacific Ocean. Russia has pledged to remain on board the ISS until 2028.
