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There’s an under appreciated problem with spinning space stations: they would be set off balance by uneven distribution of weight around the ring. This would ma
by planktonite 8y ago
There’s an under appreciated problem with spinning space stations: they would be set off balance by uneven distribution of weight around the ring. This would make small scale rings a bit problematic because people and stuff need to move around. Rings the size of halo would have enough mass that the movement of people wouldn’t be enough to matter.
- jakeinspace 8y agoCould possibly use some sort of active control system of counter masses, like water in a lattice of piping.
- jayd16 8y agoDoes it really matter if the axis of spin is in the exact center for a space station? The station would wobble, but would you feel it?
- Pharmakon 8y agoAn issue with larger rings is that the downforce felt around the ring would vary based on your position within a segment. While it would be a more subtle gradient than a smaller ring, and so less nauseating, it would mean that living and working space would vary in terms of perceived gravity. Another problem is transportation, with the fastest way to cross the ring being across a “spoke” with a gravitational gradient that goes to zero and back. To be fair that could also be a benefit, if people can get used to it.
- yreg 8y agoYou don't want rings, you want O'Neill cylinders. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O%27Neill_cylinder https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O%27Neill_cylinder
- Pharmakon 8y agoI really, really do. I’d also like a side of Dyson Swarms, hold the butter. Seriously, how amazing would an O’Neill cylinder be? People live inside, and outside you’d have industries using the vacuum to do things that would cost a fortune on Earth. Just a teensy little upfront investment is required, but with SpaceX it might not be so crazy someday soon. If the cost per kilo into orbit drops enough, a lot of sci-fi could become real; not the Dyson swarm, but orbital habitats and industries sure could.
- ACow_Adonis 8y agoArthur C Clarke and 'Rendezvous with Rama' seems suspiciously absent from discussion about "O'Niell" cylinders :P
- jkroso 8y agoAnd if you got in a car and drove against the direction of spin you would become lighter. While if you went with the direction of spin you would become heavier.
- manigandham 8y agoIn the book/TV series "The Expanse", they actually spin up massive asteroids and live inside tunnels, effectively like a ring but made of rock, to offset the fact that it doesn't have enough gravity otherwise. Neat concept, although will likely end in failure.
- crdoconnor 8y agoIn reality those asteroids would tear themselves to pieces when spun up.
- buboard 8y agoIt also acts as a radiation shield
- all2 8y agohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrLey-pX7Bc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrLey-pX7Bc There's also a few problems with Halo sized rings.