Scope

According to the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 and the U.S. National
Space Policy, humans should be capable of exploring asteroids by 2025
and Mars in the 2030s. Unless an effective countermeasure can be
developed, minimizing trip duration within the Mars mission architecture
will be critical.
Two general mission types have been proposed for manned Mars
exploration, and it is important to recognize the critical role artificial
gravity could play in each
Short-stay mission: 30-60 days on the surface, 560-850 days total
Considering a period of 1 to 2 weeks would be required
for crew acclimation to a Martian gravity of 0.38g, the
duration and detail of ground operations would be severely
limited.
Long-stay mission: 550 days on the surface, <200 day journeys. (3).

Mathematical Parameters
Artificial gravity, the centripetal accelerations inertial reaction acting on a
body in a circular motion, is defined by four parameters: radius, angular
velocity, tangential velocity and centripetal acceleration. Although artificial
gravity is an inertial force and not in fact gravity, Einsteins equivalence
principle states that is nonetheless indistinguishable from gravity (4).
V=R
Acent = 2 R

CNT, Spectra HT Tether Weight (kg) vs RPM

at 0.38G

Abstract

14

Foundational Artificial Gravity Designs

Weight (kg)

Current Mars mission architecture envisions one of two trajectories differentiated primarily by the time spent on the Martian surface.
Prolonged weightlessness, however, has proven to adversely influence a number of physiological systems by introducing intracranial pressure,
bone demineralization, muscular atrophy and vision degradation among other conditions. With deficiencies in current countermeasures, a
long-term stay trajectory is essentially ruled out leaving the challenge to perform effective and detailed Martian ground operations in 30 to 60
days.
This poster serves to review proposed artificial gravity concepts from a systems engineering perspective and furthermore, to identify how the
use of carbon nanotubes could facilitate the development of a tethered design. With advances in materials engineering, new and developing
materials may be effective solutions to common pitfalls in artificial gravity designs. Carbon nanotubes have garnered attention in the last
decade for their projected mechanical properties, and research is being carried out to further characterize and manipulate these properties. A
well-researched marriage between artificial gravity concepts and emerging material technology could provide an effective pathway to human
exploration of Mars and further into deep-space.

12
10

SWNT: Low

SWNT: High

MWNT: Low

MWNT: High

Spectra HT 375

0
0

RPM

CNT, Spectra HT Tether Weight (kg) vs RPM

at 1G
90.00
80.00

Weight (kg)

The National Research Council ranked what they considered the 16 most
critical technologies for NASA to focus in the next five years. Longduration (crew) health ranked 6th and lightweight and multifunctional
materials and structures ranked 13th. Both were noted as being critically
important by the Human Spaceflight Architecture Team (HAT) as well. (3).
With the goal of manned exploration mission to Mars fast approaching,
the understanding of current technology and extrapolation of this
knowledge into the development of new technology must become a
serious priority.

Emily E. Petersen
NASA Langley Research Center: NIFS Intern
Vehicle Analysis Branch | Systems Analysis & Concepts Directorate
Mentor: Dr. Glenn A. Hrinda, P.E.

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Artificial gravity concepts can be classified by the degree of integration into a larger spacecraft system. Intra-vehicle designs involve a short
arm (~2m) centrifuge with a singular vehicular compartment onboard a larger vehicle. Vehicle segment designs rotate only a portion of the
vehicle while whole vehicle rotation rotates the entire vehicle.

0.00
0

RPM
SWNT: Low

SWNT: High

MWNT: Low

MWNT: High

Spectra HT 375

References
1 Borowski,

(2)

(1)

S.K. Realizing 2001: A Space Odyssey: Piloted Spherical

Torus Nuclear Fusion Propulsion.
2 Cardus, D., McTaggart, W.G. (1994) Advances in Space Research (409-414).
3 Drake, B.G., Watts, K.D. (March 2014). Human Exploration of Mars
Design Reference Architecture 5.0 (Addendum #2).
4 Hall, T.W. (2006). Artificial Gravity, Visualization, Empathy and Design.
Space 2006.
5 Min-Feng, Yu. Tensile Loading of Ropes of Single Walled Carbon
Nanotubes and Their Mechanical Properties.
6 Paloski, W.H. (January 1, 2004). Sensory-Motor Adaptation to Space
Flight: Human Balance Control and Artificial Gravity.
7 Popolo, M. (July 24, 2013).How Do Astronauts Exercise in Space?
PCMag.
8 Rousek, T. (August 2010). AG_SYS: Artificial Gravity Systems Concepts.

(8)

Carbon Nanotube Application in Tethered Designs

Carbon nanotubes have garnered attention particularly in the last 20 years for their unusual
properties. Of particular interest are the superior mechanical properties demonstrated both
experimentally and theoretically. Tethered artificial gravity designs, which have the ability
to maximize the rotational radius while minimizing system mass, would be an optimal
application of carbon nanotubes low density and high ultimate tensile strength. High and low
theoretical projected values for both single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) exhibit promising capabilities in comparison with
current materials used in cables and tethers.
Tether Weight (kg) vs UTS (GPa) at 0.38G, 2rpm
Tether Weight (kg) vs UTS (GPa) at 1G, 2rpm
1.00E+03

1.00E+04

1.00E+02

1.00E+03

Weight (kg)

The adverse physiological and behavioral effects of weightlessness have

long been recognized as an obstacle to human space exploration.
Orthostatic intolerance, muscle atrophy, sensorimotor performance, bone
demineralization, immune deficiencies and renal stone formation are just
a few of these effects (6). Recently, vision degradation has also been
discovered as a result of fluid shifts into the upper body. With the first
case of weightlessness-induced intracranial pressure only being found in
2008, concerns have grown as to what other physiological risks are yet
unknown. While astronauts aboard the ISS spend up to two and a half
hours a day exercising to minimize the skeletal and muscular effects,
muscular strength can decrease up to 17%, muscular endurance by 10%
and bone mineral density by up to 7% after 180 days in space (7).

Weight (kg)

Introduction

Carbon Nanotube Application in Artificial Gravity Designs

for Manned Mars Exploration

1.00E+01

Acknowledgements
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank my mentor
Dr. Glenn Hrinda for his support throughout the internship. I would also
like to acknowledge Mia Siochi and the NASA Langley Nano Incubator
team for their work and as well as the numerous individuals at NASA
Langley who made working at Langley such a valuable experience.

Contact Information

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Emily E. Petersen
eepeters@mtu.edu
emilypetersen.weebly.com

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0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1.00E+00
0

1.00E-01

10

Ultimate Tensile Strength (GPa)

20

30

40

50

Ultimate Tensile Strength (GPa)

Copper

7000 Series Aluminum

Stainless Steel 302

Copper

7000 Series Aluminum

Stainless Steel 302

Nylon

Kevlar

Zylon

Nylon

Kevlar

MWNT: Low

MWNT: Low

SWNT: Low

Spectra HT 375

Zylon

SWNT: Low

Spectra HT 375

SWNT: High

MWNT: High

SWNT: High

MWNT: High

60

70