Delk & Gore 1

Nathan Delk and Reed Gore

Engineering Design and Development

Engineering Thesis Problem Statement and Justification

Space exploration first began in October 1957 when Russia launched the probe Sputnik 1.

Since that initial leap, humanity has achieved much more; putting men on the moon, sending

rovers to mars, and even creating electricity-powered propulsion devices, and were only

reaching for more. In coming expeditions that NASA is planning, astronauts will be in space for

longer periods than ever before, and many new issues will have to have been solved. There's

need for long-duration space travelers to counter such debilitating effects as muscle atrophy,
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bone loss, cardiovascular deconditioning and balance disorders...

After a record-breaking year in space, Scott Kelley came back to Earth and received post-flight

tests. On Earth, gravity pulls fluid towards our feet, but in space, that doesn't happen. [D]uring
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Scott Kelly's year in space, a two-litre bottle's worth of liquid shifted to his brain. The usual

amount of cerebrospinal fluid in the head is 125-150 ml, with a pressure of 150-180 mm H2O. It

accumulates naturally at a rate of 400-500 ml/day (about .36 ml/min). All of this extra fluid in

the skull could be putting pressure on the back of the eyeballs, causing them to flatten, and

pushing the retinas forward to distort vision - at least that's what scientist think is happening.

(Macdonald)

He is just one astronaut that has experienced side effects that are all caused by a common factor:

the lack of gravity. Upon more extensive research from NASA, it was recently discovered that 80

percent of astronauts suffer drastic vision changes after their time outside the effects of gravity.

One of the reported issues is nearsightedness, Shayla Love reports for The Washington Post. To

try to explain these changes, approximately 300 astronauts have been required to take vision

tests, such as MRIs and OCT scans, before and after space travel. Prompted by persistent

reports of vision changes, NASA began a stepwise operational process to determine the cause(s).

Several ophthalmic procedures were initiated on astronauts, including dilated fundus (the rear
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portion of the eye) examinations with binocular ophthalmoscopy, cycloplegic refraction, optical

coherence tomography (OCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of orbits, and fundus

photography for before and after space missions. (NASA)

All of these tests point to a long-term buildup of fluid behind the eyes which leads to flattening

of the retina, causing inflammation of the optic nerve. Vision can be reduced from 20/20 to

20/100 in 6 months, making a serious issue for astronauts taking 8 months just to reach Mars.

For a mission that is extremely long term (possibly years), there is no way to tell how severe the
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side effects may be. Because of this, measures need to be taken to protect our astronauts.
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As astronauts continue to take surveys of these side effects, the problems will become more

concrete. One thing that is for certain is that these problems are caused by the lack of gravity in

space. Continues research in this area is extremely important for astronaut safety and is critical

for the future of space exploration. Companies such as SpaceX have high hopes for humans

future in space, and they need a way to prevent the effects of no gravity in space.
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Previous Attempts

Artificial gravity is an idea that has existed as long as space travel itself. Interest spiked

after the 1968 moon landing when NASA realized the complications of astronauts spending time

without gravity. In modern day films, many theoretical ideas for creating gravity can be seen. It

is no coincidence that no one is floating around in Star Trek. There have been a number of real

plans and attempts to create artificial gravity as well, but none have succeeded.

The first patent for artificial gravity was filed in 1968 but was never followed through.

Artificial gravity is a very complex idea, and the patent filed in 1968 was not much more than

wishful thinking. Despite this, this patent was the start of what would be a key talking point in

spave travel. After that, the first prominent attempt came to light in 1990. Robin Zubrin and

David Baker were planning a mission to Mars called Mars Direct in which there would be a

rotating chamber that spun around a central axis. The worlds technology had come far since

1968, but creating a huge rotating chamber that spins quick enough to generate 1G is no small

task. This mission was far ahead of its time in concept, so the technology was not there for it to

be executed.
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The next attempt was in 2005 for a mission with the Discovery II (Pictured above). This

was a proposal that would send a 172-metric-ton ship and crew to Jupiters orbit in 118 days.

Inside this craft, there wouldve been a small spherical crew station. Similar to some other

designs, this room would use spinning to simulate the effects of gravity and provide a more

natural environment for the astronauts. At this point, the idea is seeming closer to possible than

impossible, but it still proved to be too much to handle in terms of technology and money.
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A few years later, there was a proposal called the Mars Gravity Biosatellite (Pictured

above). The plan was to send fifteen mice into space so NASA could study the effects of .36 Gs

(Mars gravity) for a long period of time. This experiment would give insight into the effects of

being affected by only a portion of Earths gravity. The mice were suppose to be in orbit for five

weeks then land back on Earth alive. This program was canceled on June 24, 2009 due to lack of

funding and priority in NASA.

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Two years after the cancelling of the Mars gravity Biosatellite project was cancelled; two

more proposals arose. The first was the ISS Centrifuge Demo. This proposal was a preparatory

project to help finish the design for the larger torus-shaped space habitat. After the completion of

this project, NASA hoped to create a second portion that was much larger and more complex.The

second project being designed was the Multi-Mission Space Exploration Vehicle. The outside

diameter of this centrifuge was supposed to be about 30 feet, and the spinning would provide .08

to .51 gs. With the whole vehicle rotating, it would allow for a partial G while just walking

around the entire ship. Both of these designs were never followed through with because of lack

of funding in NASA.
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Solution Product Specifications

In order of importance (most to least)

1. The solution, when implemented and used properly will prevent effects caused by

the lack of gravity in space by resolving issues described in the problem statement.

Any solution that does not meet this requirement will not be considered when we decide which

solution is the most viable. The solution must comply with our main problem statement (To

create innovative technology that will feasibly and efficiently simulate gravity in space.)

2. The solution must have enough force once at speed to drain cerebrospinal fluid from the

head.

Cerebrospinal fluid is quintessential to the problem that astronauts are facing. This fluid

is building up in astronauts heads and causing serious health issues. When used, our solution

must have enough force to push this force out of the head.

3. The solution will not induce any sort of harm to the astronaut.

In this specification, harm is defined as any physical injury. The mechanical aspects of

the solution need to be tested and secured. Any sort of dislodged bolt or screw could potentially

put the astronaut in harms way.

4. The solution must create less than 5 Gs for the entirety of its use.
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5 Gs is the fatal limit for a human over a long period of time. If this limit is exceeded,

there could be extreme harm inflicted on the astronaut- as extreme as death. One G is what acts

on humans every day on Earth, so this would be a very optimal amount.

5. The solution must balance itself out as to not tilt the spaceship.

Whenever our solution is being used, it is going to create a rotational vector in some

direction that acts on the spaceship. In order for the solution to be successful, it must balance its

own force out otherwise it will tilt the entire space ship.

6. The technology needed in order to execute the solution must exist.

If the technology needed to create our solution does not exist, then it will be impossible

to create a prototype. As partners, we do not possess the time nor the resources to create any

extra technology that does not exist.

7. The solution must take up a limited amount of space.

When space shuttles launch, they are packed as efficiently as possible with the room they

have. In order to save money, no extra space can be spared. The final product needs to be

completely optimized for the amount of space it uses. Without optimization, space is wasted and

with space goes money. Considering that our design will be put in a spaceship, it is confined by

this restraint. If the final product takes more than an allotted space, it must be ruled out.

8. The solution must have low mass.

In a space travel scenario, mass is an extremely important constraints. Any amount

weight added to the initial launch of a space ship must be worth the cost.
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9. The solution will have low or no effects involving nausea, dizziness, or loss of

consciousness

The chosen design must not challenge the Coriolis effect. Because of the rotation of the

solution, motion sickness is a specific worry. If the astronauts get sick or passes out every time

they use the machine, it is more of a problem than a solution.

10. The solution must be sustainable over long trips

Over the long amounts of time spent between destinations in space, limited propellant,

liquid or gas, can be used. Therefore, the design must be able to operate with essentially no input

other than human force and/or electricity.

Decision Matrix
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Specification 1: The solution, when implemented and used properly will prevent effects caused

by the lack of gravity in space by resolving issues described in the problem statement.

1-5 Scale

5- The solution fully prevents effects caused by the lack of gravity.

1- The solution does not effectively prevent some or all of the effects caused by the lack of

gravity.

Specification 2: The solution must have enough force once at speed to drain cerebrospinal fluid

from the head.

1-5 Scale

5- Without any issue, the design is able to consistently provide the necessary force to drain

cerebrospinal fluid from the head.

1- The force provided by the design is not high enough to drain cerebrospinal fluid.

Specification 3: The solution will not induce any sort of harm to the astronaut.

1-5 Scale

5- The final solution is fully secured, there is almost 0 chance that the astronauts will be harmed.

1- The design is not reliable in terms of safety. There is an extremely high chance that the an

astronaut could be injured.

Specification 4: The solution must create less than 5 Gs for the entirety of its use.

1-5 Scale

5- Does not under any circumstance pass 5 Gs in order to guarantee the astronauts G tolerance

not broken.
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1- There is no guarantee of the amount of Gs the machine can produce. If spun enough, it could

produce well past the safe limit.

Specification 5: The solution must balance itself out as to not tilt the spaceship.

1-5 Scale

5- 100 percent of the force created by the spinning process is cancelled by another process and

does not affect the orientation of the space ship.

1- No balancing process is involved in the design and allows the ship to tilt according to the

force.

Specification 6: The technology needed in order to execute the solution must exist.

1-5 Scale

5- All of the technology necessary exist and is easily accessible.

1- Little of the technology needed is created or accessible to the public; new technology will

have to be made.

Specification 7: The solution must take up a limited amount of space.

1-5 Scale

5- Machine is effectively designed and efficiently uses the space it takes up inside the ship.

1- The design is not optimized and has a lot of blank space that is not necessary to function.

Specification 8: The solution must have low mass.

1-5 Scale
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5- The solution uses the lightest possible materials and has a relatively low mass as to reduce

launch cost.

1- System is very dense and high in mass, and would most likely reduce the ability of the

spacecraft to take off.

Specification 9: The solution will have low or no effects involving nausea, dizziness, or loss of

consciousness

1-5 Scale

5- No negative side effects are caused during the process.

1- Dizziness and nausea are extreme during the process.

Specification 10: The solution must be sustainable over long trips.

1-5 Scale

5- The entire process is driven by user input and human strength

1- Large amounts of propellant or electricity are used to power the process

Decision Matrix

S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 Totals

D1 5 5 4 5 5 5 4 4 4 5 46

D2 5 5 5 5 5 5 1 3 5 3 42

D3 4 3 3 4 5 5 4 4 1 5 38

D4 4 4 4 4 3 2 3 1 4 3 31
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D5 4 5 2 2 4 5 2 1 1 5 32

D1- Laying position, centrifuge shape with counterbalance, short arm

D2- Ion Drive that accelerates a spaceship to create its own gravity.

D3- Centrifuge shape vertically aligned, short arm

D4- Rotation of the entire ship creates gravity.

D5- Centrifuge shape, aligned vertically, long arm

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