Russian state-owned Energia rocket firm has secured a patent for a novel spacecraft structure designed to generate synthetic gravity, a functionality which might present an enormous increase for long-duration crewed missions.
A report from Russian state media outlet TASS, which obtained the patent, states that the rotating system is designed to generate a gravitational drive of 0.5g, or 50% of Earth’s gravity. The patent documentation contains illustrations of a notional house station construction with a central axial module with each static and rotating elements, with modules and habitats related by a hermetically sealed, versatile junction.
The documentation notes the drawback of the necessity for spinning and coordinating the rotation of transport ships to dock with the station, which it notes reduces the protection of utilizing such a station.
NASA has produced concepts such as the rotating wheel space station concept Nautilus-X, while, more recently, commercial firm Vast has said it will pursue artificial gravity stations.
Russia did not indicate timelines for such a project nor resources to back its development. The patent does however indicate interest in the concept of artificial gravity at a time when the end of the International Space Station (ISS) is approaching and new national and commercial station plans are moving forward.
Currently, NASA and Roscosmos plan to deorbit the ISS in 2030, using a modified SpaceX Dragon capsule to push the station down into a fiery death over the Pacific Ocean. Russia has committed to stay aboard the ISS until 2028.
