[FPSPACE] The Architecture of Artificial-Gravity Environments for Long-Duration Space Habitation

[Larry Klaes]

THE ARCHITECTURE OF ARTIFICIAL-GRAVITY ENVIRONMENTS FOR LONG-DURATION 
SPACE HABITATION

Theodore Wayne Hall - 1994

ABSTRACT

Gravity deprivation (weightlessness) leads to a multitude of problems 
for people during spaceflight.  For reasons of health, comfort, and 
practicality, scientists have often proposed to provide artificial 
gravity by spinning the spacecraft.  The spin-induced centripetal 
acceleration would act as an imperfect surrogate for natural gravity.

Thus far, design studies for artificial-gravity spacecraft have 
emphasized the artifact rather than the environment.  A great deal 
of engineering has gone into station dynamics, orbital mechanics, 
propulsion, power generation, structural capacity, and other aspects 
of satellite design.  Very little has been written about the appropriate 
environmental design to support intelligent life under such a novel 
condition.  The effort has gone into transplanting elements originally 
designed for earth-normal or microgravity environments, rather than 
developing a new paradigm.

This dissertation aims to advance the science of environmental design 
for artificial gravity.  It consolidates current knowledge from engineering, 
life science, and architecture, and introduces new material through 
mathematical derivation and computer simulation.

The history of artificial gravity shows an evolution of assumptions, 
goals, and strategies that provides a precedent for further design 
development.  The debilitating effect of prolonged weightlessness argues 
in favor of artificial gravity, but the discomforting effect of rotation 
sets limits on radius and angular velocity.  

Rotation is the only viable means of providing artificial gravity, but 
motion within a rotating environment involves Coriolis accelerations and 
cross-coupled rotations that have a detrimental effect on comfort and
habitability.  As the radius of rotation is reduced, the apparent gravity 
becomes increasingly twisted, regardless of the rate of rotation or the 
intensity of the gravity.  With this twisting effect, east and west 
(prograde and retrograde) emerge as gravitationally distinct directions, 
similar to up and down.  This suggests that the basic architectural 
grammar of wall, floor, and ceiling should be augmented in artificial 
gravity to recognize a fundamental gravitational distinction between 
walls.  

The goal of environmental design in artificial gravity is not to fool 
people into thinking they're on Earth, but rather, to help them orient 
themselves to the realities of their rotating environment.

The rest of the dissertation is here:

http://www0.arch.cuhk.edu.hk/~hall/ag/Dissertation/FrontMatter.htm