Italian Space Agency (BUT) studies the possibility of developing a specialized orbital platform, intended for the generation of artificial gravity for the purpose of scientific research and technology development.
The agency officially announced the initiative. Consultations with the scientific and technological community are planned this month to gather research requirements, proposals and identification of potential areas of application of the platform. According to ASI estimates, future missions to the moon, Mars and other planetary bodies require in-depth study of the influence of various gravitational conditions on human biology, functioning of systems and properties of materials.
The proposed platform will provide the possibility of conducting long-term experiments at controlled levels of gravity - from microgravity to conditions, equivalent to the surface of the Moon and Mars. According to the previous concept, stated in the information material of the agency, the platform will provide for the placement of small modular experimental installations, each of which will occupy a volume of several CubeSat units.
ASI has identified priority areas of research, in particular life sciences, hydrodynamics, material science, production technologies and means of planetary research. At the same time, the agency emphasizes, that the specified list is not exhaustive, and invites researchers to submit additional proposals for possible applications.
For reference: The creation of artificial gravity in orbital conditions has precedents. In particular, In December 2018 German Aerospace Center (DLR) здійснив запуск дослідницького супутника Eu:CROPIS, який шляхом обертання навколо власної осі генерував гравітацію, порівнянну з умовами на поверхні Місяця та Марса. Місія була спрямована на випробування замкненої системи життєзабезпечення, здатної перетворювати синтетичну сечу на добриво для вирощування томатів. Через програмну помилку активація двох бортових теплиць не відбулася. Despite this, три інші експерименти успішно зібрали наукові дані до завершення місії у грудні 2019 year.
Source: https://europeanspaceflight.com