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IMPROVED MODEL OF A TETHERED SPACECRAFT SYSTEM WITH ARTIFICIAL GRAVITY

Andrei Craifaleanu

Abstract

Maintaining health and physical condition of astronauts during long-duration space missions requires measures to prevent microgravity effects. At present, such measures consist in practicing certain physical exercises, in using elastic suites, as well as in special medication. However, the efficiency of these solutions is limited. An alternative approach, technologically more difficult, but considerably more efficient, consists in producing a state of artificial gravity in the module inhabited by the crew. Such a solution can be achieved practically by putting the spacecraft into rotational motion about its center of mass, so that the centrifugal forces produce effects similar to gravity. But certain physiological considerations impose a relatively large rotation radius, while economic reasons limit the sizes of the spacecraft. Therefore, a two-body tethered space system proves more convenient than a single body one, if artificial gravity is needed. In a previous work, a rotating space system of two bodies connected by a viscoelastic tether was studied, based on a simple mechanical model. In the present paper, the model of such a system is improved and some dynamical effects, previously neglected, are assessed.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2018/6.1/s28.076

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