Traveling to the moon has long since ceased to be impossible for us humans. However, the moon is not readily suitable as a long-term habitat. Japanese researchers from Kyoto University, in collaboration with well-known Tokyo construction company Kajima Corporation, have designed an artificial gravity lunar base. They presented renderings of the conical, rotating structure called The Glass at a conference on July 5.
The artificial gravity condominium is designed to mimic living conditions on Earth. The almost 400 meter high structure should rotate once every 20 seconds. With the help of centrifugal force, a “normal level of gravity” should be achieved to which humans are accustomed.
Prototype planned for 2050
The Glass is said to be designed for the atmospheric conditions on Mars and the Moon. Because the construction of the facilities on the moon and Mars is apparently supposed to take 100 years, the researchers are already developing models of other infrastructures with artificial gravity. These include a transport system for interplanetary travel between the Moon, Mars and Earth called the Hexagon Space Track System, which is intended to maintain normal gravity during long-distance travel.
According to the local newspaper Asahi Shimbun, a smaller prototype of The Glass is to be erected on the lunar surface by 2050.
Key to successfully settling on the moon
The researchers believe that an environment with an Earth-like gravity is the key to successful colonization on the moon or Mars. Mammals cannot reproduce without gravity and babies cannot develop properly without gravity. In general, however, as of today, we are quite ignorant of how children would adapt to a state of almost weightlessness. Research on the subject has so far been largely limited to adults. According to studies, traveling through different gravitational fields can lead to bone loss, back pain and kidney stones.
As space travel slowly becomes more accessible to more people, researchers want to continue studying how being in microgravity environments affects different human bodies.
Yosuke Yamashiki, a professor at Kyoto University, describes the development of artificial gravity housing complexes as a turning point in space exploration. These important technologies are not developed in other countries, although they are indispensable for the migration of people into space, he said when presenting the designs. Before the beginning of the 22nd century, however, it would not be realistic for the facilities on the Moon and Mars to emerge. It will also be seen then whether the transport system can be implemented at all.
(kst)
