Artificial gravity is a concept that is ubiquitous in our science fiction yet elusive in our space program. Why is this? And how could we develop artificial gravity soon? In a Cool Worlds special, this video essay goes in depth on the topic discussing why centrifuges are the most plausible solution and early ideas on the topic. Join us a journey from Einstein’s equivalence principle, to O’Neill Cylinders and Stanford Tori; from Coriolis forces to near-term experiments. Grab a cup of a tea and enjoy.

Academic articles used:

► Nesti et al. (2014), “Human sensitivity to vertical motion”, Exp Brain Res., 232, 303: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti…

► Harris et al. (2014), “How Much Gravity Is Needed to Establish the Perceptual Upright?”, PLoS One, 9, e106207: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti… (0.15g)

► Cohen et al. (2000), “Effects of Prolonged Centrifugation on Orthostasis”, Aerospace Medical Association 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting 2001: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20…

► Graybiel et al. (1960), “Observations on Human Subjects Living in a ‘Slow Rotation Room’ for Periods of Two Days”, Arch Neurol., 3, 55: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama…

► Theodore Hall (1993), “The Architecture of Artificial Gravity: Archetypes and Transformations of Terrestrial Design”, PhD Thesis, University of Michigan: http://www.artificial-gravity.com/SSI…

► Theodore Hall (2002), “Architectural Considerations for a Minimum Mass, Minimum Energy, Artificial Gravity Environment”, SAE Technical paper Series, http://www.artificial-gravity.com/SAE…

► Online lecture by Theodore Hall in 2015 at SEEDS: https://youtu.be/2_2UxSRQxF4

► Holderman & Henderson (2011): https://www.scribd.com/document/51592…

► Kirk Sorensen (2005), “A Tether-Based Variable-Gravity Research Facility Concept”: http://www.artificial-gravity.com/JAN…