Rotating installation for increased gravity

How do you design an installation that simulates increased gravity? Within the framework of Horizon 2020, several European organisations have joined forces to investigate the effects of altered gravity. This project involved universities, the European Space Agency (ESA), the manufacturing industry and specialised space architects. Iv was asked to design a huge rotating installation. One of the concepts can be viewed here.

With speeds of up to 140 km/h, cabins at an angle of 45 degrees and varying g-forces, the design had to provide innovative solutions for safety, comfort, energy consumption and accessibility. The essence of the installation is that everything rotates around a central axis. The cabins, which function as spacecraft, laboratories or medical research spaces, are attached to the rotor at an offset position and placed at a 45-degree angle, corresponding to approximately 1.4 times the force of gravity. The installation was covered and conditioned, specifically emphasising reliability and emergency scenarios. Emergency vehicles and mobile access systems were required to facilitate safe boarding and to make the design as user-friendly and safe as possible.

Long-term stays in space accelerate the ageing process due to the lack of gravity. The hypothesis is that increased gravity can have the opposite effect, keeping people younger and healthier. Increased gravity can have a number of positive effects, including on metabolism, and could be applied to diabetes research. Athletes could train for endurance in an environment with increased gravity. And there are many other applications. Although this idea has not yet become a reality, it provides valuable insights for future space missions and health technologies.