Russia Patents Space Station Designed To Generate Artificial Gravity

Russia Patents Space Station Designed To Generate Artificial Gravity

Russian state-owned Energia rocket company has secured a patent for a novel spacecraft architecture designed to generate artificial gravity, a capability which could provide a huge boost for long-duration crewed missions.

Areportfrom Russian state media outlet TASS, which obtained the patent, states that the rotating system is designed to generate a gravitational force of 0.5g, or 50% ofEarth’s gravity.The patentdocumentationincludes illustrations of a notional space station structure with a central axial module with both static and rotating components, with modules and habitats connected by a hermetically sealed, flexible junction.

The radially attached habitable modules would be rotated around this axis to simulate gravity for the crew by producing an outward-pushing centrifugal force. These would need to rotate about five revolutions per minute, and have a radius of 131 feet (40 meters) in order to produce 0.5g. A space station of that size would require multiple launches with each module that would then be assembled in orbit.

The documentation notes the disadvantage of the need for spinning and coordinating the rotation of transport ships to dock with the station, which it notes reduces the safety of using such a station.

Generatingartificial gravitycould have profound impacts for crews on long-duration space missions, whether in low Earth orbit on interplanetary voyages into deep space. Exposure to microgravity has numerous impacts on astronauts, including muscle atrophy and bone density loss.

Illustrations accompanying a patent for an artificial gravity space station submitted by Russian state-owned Energia rocket company.(Image credit: RSC Energia)

NASA has produced concepts such as the rotating wheel space station concept Nautilus-X, while, recently, commercial firm Vast has said it willpursue artificial gravity stations.

Russia did not indicate timelines for such a project nor resources to back its development. The patent does however indicate interest in the concept of artificial gravity at a time when the end of theInternational Space Station(ISS) is approaching and new national and commercial station plans are moving forward.

Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and !

Currently, NASA and Roscosmos plan to deorbit the ISS in 2030,using a modified SpaceX Dragon capsuleto push the station down into a fiery death over the Pacific Ocean. Russia has committed to stay aboard the ISSuntil 2028.

p style=”font-size:18px;color:#555″>
Disclaimer: This news article has been republished exactly as it appeared on its original source, without any modification.
We do not take any responsibility for its content, which remains solely the responsibility of the original publisher.

Author:[email protected] (Andrew Jones)
Published on:2025-12-24 02:00:00
Source: www.space.com

Disclaimer: This news article has been republished exactly as it appeared on its original source, without any modification.
We do not take any responsibility for its content, which remains solely the responsibility of the original publisher.

Author: uaetodaynews
Published on: 2025-12-24 01:32:00
Source: uaetodaynews.com