Artificial gravity is a concept that is ubiquitous in our science fiction yet elusive in our space program. Why is this? And how could we develop artificial gravity soon? In a Cool Worlds special, this video essay goes in depth on the topic discussing why centrifuges are the most plausible solution and early ideas on the topic. Join us a journey from Einstein’s equivalence principle, to O’Neill Cylinders and Stanford Tori; from Coriolis forces to near-term experiments. Grab a cup of a tea and enjoy.
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Chapters:
0:08 Introduction
5:43 The O’Neill Cylinder
8:10 The Stanford Torus
10:16 Down-Sizing
13:31 Coriolis
16:52 Vertical Coriolis
19:32 Tipping Coriolis
21:34 Canal Sickness
27:01 Stability
29:28 Near-Tear Experiments
Academic articles used:
► Nesti et al. (2014), “Human sensitivity to vertical motion”, Exp Brain Res., 232, 303: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3898153/
► Harris et al. (2014), “How Much Gravity Is Needed to Establish the Perceptual Upright?”, PLoS One, 9, e106207: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4153541/ (0.15g)
► Cohen et al. (2000), “Effects of Prolonged Centrifugation on Orthostasis”, Aerospace Medical Association 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting 2001: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20010106394
► Graybiel et al. (1960), “Observations on Human Subjects Living in a ‘Slow Rotation Room’ for Periods of Two Days”, Arch Neurol., 3, 55: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/562689
► Theodore Hall (1993), “The Architecture of Artificial Gravity: Archetypes and Transformations of Terrestrial Design”, PhD Thesis, University of Michigan: http://www.artificial-gravity.com/SSI-1993-Hall.pdf
► Theodore Hall (2002), “Architectural Considerations for a Minimum Mass, Minimum Energy, Artificial Gravity Environment”, SAE Technical paper Series, http://www.artificial-gravity.com/SAE-2002-01-2431.pdf
► Online lecture by Theodore Hall in 2015 at SEEDS: https://youtu.be/2_2UxSRQxF4
► Holderman & Henderson (2011): https://www.scribd.com/document/51592987/Nautilus-X-Holderman-1-26-11
► Kirk Sorensen (2005), “A Tether-Based Variable-Gravity Research Facility Concept”: http://www.artificial-gravity.com/JANNAF-2005-Sorensen.pdf
Video materials used:
► Numerous NASA videos, in particular of ISS, the Dawn Mission, as well Stanford Torus video: https://youtu.be/UcO_BjXfhhc
► Nautilus X videos from f r a g o m a t i k: https://youtu.be/hObbL4DCesI and https://youtu.be/04HyXw-kcC0
► High G blackout videos from VIDSTORM: https://youtu.be/YVkzZQVSX08
► Inner ear video from Fauquier ENT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMIMvBa8XGs
► World Record 83 G Deceleration Peak on Rocket Sled 1958-05-16 (1967) USAF: https://youtu.be/siau78EFLgc
► SpaceX Falcon Heavy test flight: https://youtu.be/wbSwFU6tY1c
► “ORBIT – A Journey Around Earth in Real Time” by Seán Doran: https://youtu.be/Xjs6fnpPWy4
► MIT Coriolis demonstration: https://youtu.be/dt_XJp77-mk
► MPI CyberMotion Simulator: https://youtu.be/ThkymYRP1g8
► Not a video but thanks to Don Davis for his amazing images used
► Rotating simulators by Tom Lechner and William Hoza: http://www.tomlechner.com/outerspace/ and http://william.hoza.us/centrifuge/#4&1
Filmclips, in order of appearance;
► Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1967, Paramount)
► Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005, Paramount)
► Interstellar (2014, Warner Bros)
► 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968, Warner Bros)
► The Martian (2015, 20th Century Fox)
► Avatar (2009, 20th Century Fox)
► Elysium (2013, Sony Pictures)
Music is by Chris Zabriskie (http://chriszabriskie.com/) and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), in order of appearance;
► Cylinder Five (http://chriszabriskie.com/cylinders/)
► Cylinder Nine (http://chriszabriskie.com/cylinders/)
► Cylinder Three (http://chriszabriskie.com/cylinders/)
► We Were Never Meant to Live Here (http://chriszabriskie.com/neptuneflux/)
► That Hopeful Future Is All I’ve Ever Known (http://chriszabriskie.com/neptuneflux/)
► The Sun is Scheduled to Come Out Tomorrow (https://soundcloud.com/chriszabriskie/the-sun-is-scheduled-to-come)
► Cylinder Seven (http://chriszabriskie.com/cylinders/)
► Cylinder Four (http://chriszabriskie.com/cylinders/)
► Cylinder Eight (http://chriszabriskie.com/cylinders/)
And also…
► Columbia University Department of Astronomy: http://www.astro.columbia.edu
► Cool Worlds Lab website: http://coolworlds.astro.columbia.edu
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