A Large Human Centrifuge for Exploration end Explotation Research

This paper addresses endeavors towards the development of an Altered Gravity Platform, AGP, that serves as a research platform for Human Space Exploration. Space flight causes a multitude of physiological problems, many of which are due to gravity level transitions. Going from Earth's gravity to microgravity generates fluid shifts, space motion sickness, cardiovascular deconditioning etc., but returning into a gravity environment puts the astronauts similarly under stress. Prolonged stay in microgravity provokes additional deleterious changes like bone decalcification, muscle atrophy, or specific psychological stresses. To prepare for future manned space exploration missions, we should look into the feasibility of a platform for countermeasure research against the deleterious effects of g-level transitions. AGP is a large rotating facility (diameter > 150 m), where higher levels of gravity (e.g. 1.1 to 1.5g) are generated, from short, transit simulations to prolonged stays of weeks or even months. On this platform, facilities are built where a crew of 6 to 8 humans can live autonomously. Adaptation from 1g to higher g levels can be studied extensively and monitored continuously. Conversely, re-adaptation back to 1g, after a prolonged period of altered g can also be investigated. Study of the physiological and psychological adaptation to g-level changes will provide the scientific community with instrumental and predictive knowledge to better define the ultimate countermeasures that are needed for future successful manned space exploration missions to Mars and elsewhere. During the AGP study the appropriate and necessary scientific, operational and engineering inputs will be obtained from individual scientific top experts in Europe and beyond. Because so many different physiological systems are involved, a multidisciplinary approach is crucial. One of the final and crucial steps is to verify the AGP concept by a large scientific community through the feedback from various scientific societies. Not only does the space community benefits from such a facility, but so does the Earth-bound public, since a multitude of health problems such as osteoporosis, elderly frailty, inactivity, sarcopenia, obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes, cardio-vascular problems, immune deficiency, etc. can benefit from the fundamental insights gained with such a novel research platform.