Hello Luggers,
Space tourism is now a possible reality with the successfull flight of a
private space craft. Many years ago I observed the spinning wheel in the
starting video of the TV serial 'Mahabharata'. That gave me an idea of
creating artificial gravity in space for the convenience of space
travellers. Imagine a spinning wheel having a thick hollow circumference.
This hollow circumference will be the rooms of the space building. The
actual circumference wall will be the floor of the rooms which will be
interconnected in a round circle. As the wheel spins, it creates centrifugal
force and this force pushes the people and material against the outer wall
(floor). This is artificial gravity. As I don't know the calculations, I am
not in a position to know the practical maximum diameter as well as the
rotation speed that can be possible in space. Even if we cannot get full
gravity, a partial one will be very handy for tourists who may find the
process of using the toilet under zero gravity conditions awkward and
revolting. This will also keep the body in earth like familiar conditions
for longer stay in space. The centering balance of the wheel can be done by
having pumps that will pump liquid mercury into hollow chambers all along
the circumference, according to the weight imbalance, in a sensing similar
to car wheel balancing. Mercury is the heaviest liquid and will occupy
minimum volume.
The Indian hotel industry should come together to create hotels and
recreation centres in space before others get into the race. We will need
hotels, cinema halls, reception halls (for space marriages and birthday
bashes), gyms, and other sight seeing sites for space tourists. The big guns
should get into the act with ISRO.
Regards,
Rony.