THE NEED FOR MARS-g IN LEO: MANNED ANTECEDENT FOR REDUCED & SIMULATED GRAVITY

Artificial gravity through structural rotation is the only known and most direct method that can be expected, when in orbit, to fully prevent bone impairment, musculature decline and reduced autoimmune system. Such a system is thus of special significance for long duration interplanetary flights. Both the NASA and the ESA have manned Mars exploration on their agenda. Currently only the extremes of zero or (greater than) one gee have been investigated for humans. It is shown that only a tether system can yield a lightweight solution to provide a large rotational radius avoiding the disorienting effects usually associated with