Human Powered Centrifuges on the Moon or Mars

• Published in: Microgravity science and technology Vol. 21; no. 1-2; pp. 209 - 215
• Main Authors: di Prampero, Pietro Enrico, Lazzer, Stefano, Antonutto, Guglielmo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 2009; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acceleration; Aerospace Technology and Astronautics; Artificial gravity; Astronauts; Bicycles; Cardiovascular system; Classical and Continuum Physics; Engineering; Feet; Fluid dynamics; Fluid flow; Gravity; Gravity effects; Heart; Microgravity; Original Article; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Countermeasures; Space flight; Cardiovascular deconditioning; Microgravity
• ISSN: 0938-0108; 1875-0494
• DOI: 10.1007/s12217-008-9046-z

Exposure to microgravity leads to “cardiovascular deconditioning” (CVD), because of the fluids shift toward the thorax. CVD is characterised by: 1) a decrease of plasma and interstitial fluid volumes, 2) a relative increase of the erythrocytes mass, 3) a decrease of arterial diastolic pressure, of the stroke volume, of the end-diastolic volume and of the left ventricular mass. CVD can be expected to occur also in astronauts living permanently on Lunar or Martian bases, since on these celestial bodies the acceleration of gravity is about 0.165 and 0.379 the Earth value. In these conditions, cycling on appropriately constructed tracks may be useful to recreate artificial gravity and to allow the astronauts to perform physical exercise. Indeed, a cyclist riding a bicycle on a circular track, generates an outward acceleration vector which depends on the radius of the track and on the ground speed. The vectorial sum of this last and the acceleration of gravity acts in the head to feet direction, thus increasing the effects of gravity on the cardiovascular system. We propose to construct on a Lunar or Martian base a circular “track tunnel” with a radius of 25 m. We show here that when cycling on this track tunnel at speeds between 10 to 15 m · s  − 1 , astronauts will generate a g vector acting along the head to feet axis ranging from 0.44 to 0.99 of the Earth value. We suggest that the logistics and feasibility of these track-tunnels should be studied in view of their possible implementation.