what about create human colonies in space is sci-fi meat for now, but that hasn’t stopped us from flipping a lot of theories that would make life easier on the surface of the Moon or Mars. We’ve been doing it for decades. And we’re not bad at all.
We thought about how extract water and oxygenin how to get materials and the best way to do we build “houses”. We are even grow tomatoes and peppers in the middle of Antarctica, at -40°C, to learn how to do it one day on the arid surface of our satellite.
Drinking, breathing and eating, having a roof over your head and things to work with are important, of course; but there is another equally crucial factor for life beyond our planet: reaching a force of gravity similar to that of the Earth which make our life easier and does not interfere with our health.
When you think of the first colony on the Moon, imagine it with people striding along Neil Armstrongadapting to its particular gravity and the reduced attraction of the satelliteor as we do millions of people who inhabit the Earth?
A science fiction idea
In the Kyoto University and the signature Kajima Corp. thought about the subject and came up with a proposal that seems to be taken from the best and most delirious science fiction book: their idea — because for the moment it is just that: an idea — is to create an artificial gravitational habitatvast installations in which an attraction similar to that which we enjoy on Earth is recreated.
How?
He ahí the geniality of the plan that quieren déarrollar in Japan: through a centrífuga fuerza generada por movimientos de rotation, an installation that the ayudaría has moved from a form no muy distinguished as lo hacemos aqui, en nuestro planeta, cuando paseamos por the street.
“As life in space became more realistic low gravitylike that of the lunar surface, began to be seen as a problem”, Yosuke Yamashiki reflectiondirector of the Center for Human Spatialology (SIC) at Kyoto University, in a statement explaining that his center and Kajima Construction Co. have decided to study how to meet the challenge.
It’s not just that the future inhabitants of the Moon or Mars can move around comfortably. Stakes, recalculate SICmay be the very viability of human colonies.
“Without gravity, it is possible that mammals were not born successful. Also, even if they could be born, we cannot expect normal growth under low gravity conditions. When a person grows in low gravity conditions, they become a body that cannot stand on Earth.” think from the center Japanese research.
His statement comes, in fact, shortly after Scientific reports publish an analysis on the effects of microgravity on the muscular and skeletal system of astronauts.
“We offer a ‘artificial gravity habitat’ in space, on the surface of the Moon or on Mars, where the centrifugal force of rotation can be used to generate gravity equivalent to that of the terrestrial environment. We believe that people should live in the facilities on a daily basis and enjoy the low gravity of the Moon and Mars and the weightlessness of space only when working, conducting research or for recreation,” pick up the statement Japanese.
To demonstrate how their ideas would be translated into reality, SIC made two videos in which it may seem a small habitat with artificial gravity generated by centrifugal force through rotation. “By living in this facility, humans can safely have children and maintain a body that can return to earth at any time,” they say. Seemingly perpendicular habitats with vegetation can be seen in the room… and even a sailboat sail.
The fact that they have started to investigate does not mean that we will soon see their solution. The Japanese newspaper asahi need that its promoters work with a long-term horizon, which would go into the XXII. Before, in 2050, yes, they hope that a simplified version can be built on the Moon.
“There is no plan like this in the space development programs of other countries”, Recalcaba Yosuke Yamashjikiof the CIS, at a conference held a few days ago.
The idea is ambitiousbut if the Japanese show anything, it is that they are overflowing with ambition and the ability to imagine the technologies of the future in space, as incredible as they may seem.
In addition to Lunar Glass and Mars Glass, the habitats they predict for our satellite and the Red Planet, as part of their proposal, the team proposes a particular space transport system: an artificial gravity train that facilitates communication between Earth, Moon and Mars.
Cover image | Kyoto Space Innovation