Would a sleeper ship need artificial gravity?
If all of the crew and passengers of an interstellar craft were in suspended animation except prior to Earth departure and just before destination arrival, would they need artificial gravity (through some from of spin) for the length of the journey?
Also please let me know if there's a better place to ask this question. I don't want to step out of context.
space-travel spaceships hibernation
asked 2 hours ago
JamesJames
8316
add a comment |
If all of the crew and passengers of an interstellar craft were in suspended animation except prior to Earth departure and just before destination arrival, would they need artificial gravity (through some from of spin) for the length of the journey?
Also please let me know if there's a better place to ask this question. I don't want to step out of context.
space-travel spaceships hibernation
asked 2 hours ago
JamesJames
8316
What kind of speeds does the ship fly at ? does it accelarate to them or "magically" jump from 0 speed to 95% of light speed?
– Soan
2 hours ago
Instead of spin, you might look at gravity by linear acceleration, providing artificial gravity as a side effect of your main thrust.
– Cadence
2 hours ago
add a comment |
If all of the crew and passengers of an interstellar craft were in suspended animation except prior to Earth departure and just before destination arrival, would they need artificial gravity (through some from of spin) for the length of the journey?
Also please let me know if there's a better place to ask this question. I don't want to step out of context.
space-travel spaceships hibernation
asked 2 hours ago
JamesJames
8316
If all of the crew and passengers of an interstellar craft were in suspended animation except prior to Earth departure and just before destination arrival, would they need artificial gravity (through some from of spin) for the length of the journey?
Also please let me know if there's a better place to ask this question. I don't want to step out of context.
space-travel spaceships hibernation
space-travel spaceships hibernation
asked 2 hours ago
JamesJames
8316
asked 2 hours ago
JamesJames
8316
asked 2 hours ago
JamesJames
8316
asked 2 hours ago
JamesJames
8316
asked 2 hours ago
JamesJames
8316
8316
What kind of speeds does the ship fly at ? does it accelarate to them or "magically" jump from 0 speed to 95% of light speed?
– Soan
2 hours ago
Instead of spin, you might look at gravity by linear acceleration, providing artificial gravity as a side effect of your main thrust.
– Cadence
2 hours ago
add a comment |
What kind of speeds does the ship fly at ? does it accelarate to them or "magically" jump from 0 speed to 95% of light speed?
– Soan
2 hours ago
Instead of spin, you might look at gravity by linear acceleration, providing artificial gravity as a side effect of your main thrust.
– Cadence
2 hours ago
What kind of speeds does the ship fly at ? does it accelarate to them or "magically" jump from 0 speed to 95% of light speed?
– Soan
2 hours ago
What kind of speeds does the ship fly at ? does it accelarate to them or "magically" jump from 0 speed to 95% of light speed?
– Soan
2 hours ago
Instead of spin, you might look at gravity by linear acceleration, providing artificial gravity as a side effect of your main thrust.
– Cadence
2 hours ago
Instead of spin, you might look at gravity by linear acceleration, providing artificial gravity as a side effect of your main thrust.
– Cadence
2 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
Need? No. Want? Yes.
From real life:
Science Results for Everyone
Maintaining strong muscles is a big enough challenge on Earth. It is much harder to do in space where there is no gravity. Calf muscles biopsies before flight and after a six months mission on the ISS show that even when crew members did aerobic exercise five hours a week and resistance exercise three to six days per week, muscle volume and peak power both still decrease significantly. Overall, the data suggest that current exercise countermeasures are not enough. The addition of a second treadmill and the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) along with more rigorous exercise regiment are giving good results in preventing muscle loss and preserving overall muscle health.
-Effect of Prolonged Space Flight on Human Skeletal Muscle (Biopsy) - 08.15.18 -NASA
Unless your sleeper technology can make up for the atrophy of muscles that's normally seen in both comatose patients AND the atrophy seen in Active microgravity residents, the addition of artificial gravity would reduce this problem to coma patient level, which could be treated with neuromuscular electrical stimulation.
But neuromuscular electrical stimulation doesn't work for bone mass losses (Osteoporosis) as well, which is also another problem of microgravity. So your sleeper tech would also need that. Artificial gravity would make it a non-issue.
So need? No, your sleeper tech can adjust for the medical issues or have your travelers arrive skinny and weak. But you probably want it.
Whatever the source of the gravity, it should be about Earth normal 1G. Lower gravity would cause less stress to the body and still lead to skeletal-muscular mass losses (at a lower rate), and high gravity causes issues with blood pumping and stress to tissue. Sustained high gravity force can kill a human.
answered 2 hours ago
cdecde
40127
It could be that because of his propulsion system that there already is a "gravity" because the acceleration of the ship causes it.
– Soan
2 hours ago
@Soan then the issue is how fast it's accelerating and how likely that is to be above earth normal 1G. I'd hate to try to travel in a sustained 10G acceleration. Probably be dead.
– cde
2 hours ago
Would the lack of (full) gravity actually cause muscle and bone loss in unconscious people? I agree that the "coma" will.
– Cyn
1 hour ago
@cyn a coma is a type of unconsciousness. And yes. Atrophy of muscles is due to lack of use, and skeletal mass loss due to lack of stress from gravity AND movement. Without both, the bones will lose mineral density and weaken. Astronauts must work out alot to reduce the amount of bone and muscle loss simply from being in space.
– cde
38 mins ago
You're not really answering my question though. If someone is already losing bone and muscle mass due to unconsciousness, would being in low/no gravity make any difference? I know that low/no gravity makes an enormous difference for active people. But why would it for someone who is not weight-bearing anyway? I could see the low/no gravity changing muscles used for breathing, but why would someone already in a coma lose more bone mass in low/no gravity?
– Cyn
33 mins ago
|
show 2 more comments
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1 Answer
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Need? No. Want? Yes.
From real life:
Science Results for Everyone
Maintaining strong muscles is a big enough challenge on Earth. It is much harder to do in space where there is no gravity. Calf muscles biopsies before flight and after a six months mission on the ISS show that even when crew members did aerobic exercise five hours a week and resistance exercise three to six days per week, muscle volume and peak power both still decrease significantly. Overall, the data suggest that current exercise countermeasures are not enough. The addition of a second treadmill and the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) along with more rigorous exercise regiment are giving good results in preventing muscle loss and preserving overall muscle health.
-Effect of Prolonged Space Flight on Human Skeletal Muscle (Biopsy) - 08.15.18 -NASA
Unless your sleeper technology can make up for the atrophy of muscles that's normally seen in both comatose patients AND the atrophy seen in Active microgravity residents, the addition of artificial gravity would reduce this problem to coma patient level, which could be treated with neuromuscular electrical stimulation.
But neuromuscular electrical stimulation doesn't work for bone mass losses (Osteoporosis) as well, which is also another problem of microgravity. So your sleeper tech would also need that. Artificial gravity would make it a non-issue.
So need? No, your sleeper tech can adjust for the medical issues or have your travelers arrive skinny and weak. But you probably want it.
Whatever the source of the gravity, it should be about Earth normal 1G. Lower gravity would cause less stress to the body and still lead to skeletal-muscular mass losses (at a lower rate), and high gravity causes issues with blood pumping and stress to tissue. Sustained high gravity force can kill a human.
answered 2 hours ago
cdecde
40127
It could be that because of his propulsion system that there already is a "gravity" because the acceleration of the ship causes it.
– Soan
2 hours ago
@Soan then the issue is how fast it's accelerating and how likely that is to be above earth normal 1G. I'd hate to try to travel in a sustained 10G acceleration. Probably be dead.
– cde
2 hours ago
Would the lack of (full) gravity actually cause muscle and bone loss in unconscious people? I agree that the "coma" will.
– Cyn
1 hour ago
@cyn a coma is a type of unconsciousness. And yes. Atrophy of muscles is due to lack of use, and skeletal mass loss due to lack of stress from gravity AND movement. Without both, the bones will lose mineral density and weaken. Astronauts must work out alot to reduce the amount of bone and muscle loss simply from being in space.
– cde
38 mins ago
You're not really answering my question though. If someone is already losing bone and muscle mass due to unconsciousness, would being in low/no gravity make any difference? I know that low/no gravity makes an enormous difference for active people. But why would it for someone who is not weight-bearing anyway? I could see the low/no gravity changing muscles used for breathing, but why would someone already in a coma lose more bone mass in low/no gravity?
– Cyn
33 mins ago
|
show 2 more comments
Need? No. Want? Yes.
From real life:
Science Results for Everyone
Maintaining strong muscles is a big enough challenge on Earth. It is much harder to do in space where there is no gravity. Calf muscles biopsies before flight and after a six months mission on the ISS show that even when crew members did aerobic exercise five hours a week and resistance exercise three to six days per week, muscle volume and peak power both still decrease significantly. Overall, the data suggest that current exercise countermeasures are not enough. The addition of a second treadmill and the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) along with more rigorous exercise regiment are giving good results in preventing muscle loss and preserving overall muscle health.
-Effect of Prolonged Space Flight on Human Skeletal Muscle (Biopsy) - 08.15.18 -NASA
Unless your sleeper technology can make up for the atrophy of muscles that's normally seen in both comatose patients AND the atrophy seen in Active microgravity residents, the addition of artificial gravity would reduce this problem to coma patient level, which could be treated with neuromuscular electrical stimulation.
But neuromuscular electrical stimulation doesn't work for bone mass losses (Osteoporosis) as well, which is also another problem of microgravity. So your sleeper tech would also need that. Artificial gravity would make it a non-issue.
So need? No, your sleeper tech can adjust for the medical issues or have your travelers arrive skinny and weak. But you probably want it.
Whatever the source of the gravity, it should be about Earth normal 1G. Lower gravity would cause less stress to the body and still lead to skeletal-muscular mass losses (at a lower rate), and high gravity causes issues with blood pumping and stress to tissue. Sustained high gravity force can kill a human.
answered 2 hours ago
cdecde
40127
It could be that because of his propulsion system that there already is a "gravity" because the acceleration of the ship causes it.
– Soan
2 hours ago
@Soan then the issue is how fast it's accelerating and how likely that is to be above earth normal 1G. I'd hate to try to travel in a sustained 10G acceleration. Probably be dead.
– cde
2 hours ago
Would the lack of (full) gravity actually cause muscle and bone loss in unconscious people? I agree that the "coma" will.
– Cyn
1 hour ago
@cyn a coma is a type of unconsciousness. And yes. Atrophy of muscles is due to lack of use, and skeletal mass loss due to lack of stress from gravity AND movement. Without both, the bones will lose mineral density and weaken. Astronauts must work out alot to reduce the amount of bone and muscle loss simply from being in space.
– cde
38 mins ago
You're not really answering my question though. If someone is already losing bone and muscle mass due to unconsciousness, would being in low/no gravity make any difference? I know that low/no gravity makes an enormous difference for active people. But why would it for someone who is not weight-bearing anyway? I could see the low/no gravity changing muscles used for breathing, but why would someone already in a coma lose more bone mass in low/no gravity?
– Cyn
33 mins ago
|
show 2 more comments
Need? No. Want? Yes.
From real life:
Science Results for Everyone
Maintaining strong muscles is a big enough challenge on Earth. It is much harder to do in space where there is no gravity. Calf muscles biopsies before flight and after a six months mission on the ISS show that even when crew members did aerobic exercise five hours a week and resistance exercise three to six days per week, muscle volume and peak power both still decrease significantly. Overall, the data suggest that current exercise countermeasures are not enough. The addition of a second treadmill and the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) along with more rigorous exercise regiment are giving good results in preventing muscle loss and preserving overall muscle health.
-Effect of Prolonged Space Flight on Human Skeletal Muscle (Biopsy) - 08.15.18 -NASA
Unless your sleeper technology can make up for the atrophy of muscles that's normally seen in both comatose patients AND the atrophy seen in Active microgravity residents, the addition of artificial gravity would reduce this problem to coma patient level, which could be treated with neuromuscular electrical stimulation.
But neuromuscular electrical stimulation doesn't work for bone mass losses (Osteoporosis) as well, which is also another problem of microgravity. So your sleeper tech would also need that. Artificial gravity would make it a non-issue.
So need? No, your sleeper tech can adjust for the medical issues or have your travelers arrive skinny and weak. But you probably want it.
Whatever the source of the gravity, it should be about Earth normal 1G. Lower gravity would cause less stress to the body and still lead to skeletal-muscular mass losses (at a lower rate), and high gravity causes issues with blood pumping and stress to tissue. Sustained high gravity force can kill a human.
answered 2 hours ago
cdecde
40127
Need? No. Want? Yes.
From real life:
Science Results for Everyone
Maintaining strong muscles is a big enough challenge on Earth. It is much harder to do in space where there is no gravity. Calf muscles biopsies before flight and after a six months mission on the ISS show that even when crew members did aerobic exercise five hours a week and resistance exercise three to six days per week, muscle volume and peak power both still decrease significantly. Overall, the data suggest that current exercise countermeasures are not enough. The addition of a second treadmill and the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) along with more rigorous exercise regiment are giving good results in preventing muscle loss and preserving overall muscle health.
-Effect of Prolonged Space Flight on Human Skeletal Muscle (Biopsy) - 08.15.18 -NASA
Unless your sleeper technology can make up for the atrophy of muscles that's normally seen in both comatose patients AND the atrophy seen in Active microgravity residents, the addition of artificial gravity would reduce this problem to coma patient level, which could be treated with neuromuscular electrical stimulation.
But neuromuscular electrical stimulation doesn't work for bone mass losses (Osteoporosis) as well, which is also another problem of microgravity. So your sleeper tech would also need that. Artificial gravity would make it a non-issue.
So need? No, your sleeper tech can adjust for the medical issues or have your travelers arrive skinny and weak. But you probably want it.
Whatever the source of the gravity, it should be about Earth normal 1G. Lower gravity would cause less stress to the body and still lead to skeletal-muscular mass losses (at a lower rate), and high gravity causes issues with blood pumping and stress to tissue. Sustained high gravity force can kill a human.
answered 2 hours ago
cdecde
40127
edited 1 hour ago
answered 2 hours ago
cdecde
40127
answered 2 hours ago
cdecde
40127
answered 2 hours ago
cdecde
40127
40127
It could be that because of his propulsion system that there already is a "gravity" because the acceleration of the ship causes it.
– Soan
2 hours ago
@Soan then the issue is how fast it's accelerating and how likely that is to be above earth normal 1G. I'd hate to try to travel in a sustained 10G acceleration. Probably be dead.
– cde
2 hours ago
Would the lack of (full) gravity actually cause muscle and bone loss in unconscious people? I agree that the "coma" will.
– Cyn
1 hour ago
@cyn a coma is a type of unconsciousness. And yes. Atrophy of muscles is due to lack of use, and skeletal mass loss due to lack of stress from gravity AND movement. Without both, the bones will lose mineral density and weaken. Astronauts must work out alot to reduce the amount of bone and muscle loss simply from being in space.
– cde
38 mins ago
You're not really answering my question though. If someone is already losing bone and muscle mass due to unconsciousness, would being in low/no gravity make any difference? I know that low/no gravity makes an enormous difference for active people. But why would it for someone who is not weight-bearing anyway? I could see the low/no gravity changing muscles used for breathing, but why would someone already in a coma lose more bone mass in low/no gravity?
– Cyn
33 mins ago
|
show 2 more comments
It could be that because of his propulsion system that there already is a "gravity" because the acceleration of the ship causes it.
– Soan
2 hours ago
@Soan then the issue is how fast it's accelerating and how likely that is to be above earth normal 1G. I'd hate to try to travel in a sustained 10G acceleration. Probably be dead.
– cde
2 hours ago
Would the lack of (full) gravity actually cause muscle and bone loss in unconscious people? I agree that the "coma" will.
– Cyn
1 hour ago
@cyn a coma is a type of unconsciousness. And yes. Atrophy of muscles is due to lack of use, and skeletal mass loss due to lack of stress from gravity AND movement. Without both, the bones will lose mineral density and weaken. Astronauts must work out alot to reduce the amount of bone and muscle loss simply from being in space.
– cde
38 mins ago
You're not really answering my question though. If someone is already losing bone and muscle mass due to unconsciousness, would being in low/no gravity make any difference? I know that low/no gravity makes an enormous difference for active people. But why would it for someone who is not weight-bearing anyway? I could see the low/no gravity changing muscles used for breathing, but why would someone already in a coma lose more bone mass in low/no gravity?
– Cyn
33 mins ago
It could be that because of his propulsion system that there already is a "gravity" because the acceleration of the ship causes it.
– Soan
2 hours ago
It could be that because of his propulsion system that there already is a "gravity" because the acceleration of the ship causes it.
– Soan
2 hours ago
@Soan then the issue is how fast it's accelerating and how likely that is to be above earth normal 1G. I'd hate to try to travel in a sustained 10G acceleration. Probably be dead.
– cde
2 hours ago
@Soan then the issue is how fast it's accelerating and how likely that is to be above earth normal 1G. I'd hate to try to travel in a sustained 10G acceleration. Probably be dead.
– cde
2 hours ago
Would the lack of (full) gravity actually cause muscle and bone loss in unconscious people? I agree that the "coma" will.
– Cyn
1 hour ago
Would the lack of (full) gravity actually cause muscle and bone loss in unconscious people? I agree that the "coma" will.
– Cyn
1 hour ago
@cyn a coma is a type of unconsciousness. And yes. Atrophy of muscles is due to lack of use, and skeletal mass loss due to lack of stress from gravity AND movement. Without both, the bones will lose mineral density and weaken. Astronauts must work out alot to reduce the amount of bone and muscle loss simply from being in space.
– cde
38 mins ago
@cyn a coma is a type of unconsciousness. And yes. Atrophy of muscles is due to lack of use, and skeletal mass loss due to lack of stress from gravity AND movement. Without both, the bones will lose mineral density and weaken. Astronauts must work out alot to reduce the amount of bone and muscle loss simply from being in space.
– cde
38 mins ago
You're not really answering my question though. If someone is already losing bone and muscle mass due to unconsciousness, would being in low/no gravity make any difference? I know that low/no gravity makes an enormous difference for active people. But why would it for someone who is not weight-bearing anyway? I could see the low/no gravity changing muscles used for breathing, but why would someone already in a coma lose more bone mass in low/no gravity?
– Cyn
33 mins ago
You're not really answering my question though. If someone is already losing bone and muscle mass due to unconsciousness, would being in low/no gravity make any difference? I know that low/no gravity makes an enormous difference for active people. But why would it for someone who is not weight-bearing anyway? I could see the low/no gravity changing muscles used for breathing, but why would someone already in a coma lose more bone mass in low/no gravity?
– Cyn
33 mins ago
|
show 2 more comments
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What kind of speeds does the ship fly at ? does it accelarate to them or "magically" jump from 0 speed to 95% of light speed?
– Soan
2 hours ago
Instead of spin, you might look at gravity by linear acceleration, providing artificial gravity as a side effect of your main thrust.
– Cadence
2 hours ago