Hello Luggers,

Space tourism is now a possible reality with the successfull flight of a private space craft. Many years ago I observed the spinning wheel in the starting video of the TV serial 'Mahabharata'. That gave me an idea of creating artificial gravity in space for the convenience of space travellers. Imagine a spinning wheel having a thick hollow circumference. This hollow circumference will be the rooms of the space building. The actual circumference wall will be the floor of the rooms which will be interconnected in a round circle. As the wheel spins, it creates centrifugal force and this force pushes the people and material against the outer wall (floor). This is artificial gravity. As I don't know the calculations, I am not in a position to know the practical maximum diameter as well as the rotation speed that can be possible in space. Even if we cannot get full gravity, a partial one will be very handy for tourists who may find the process of using the toilet under zero gravity conditions awkward and revolting. This will also keep the body in earth like familiar conditions for longer stay in space. The centering balance of the wheel can be done by having pumps that will pump liquid mercury into hollow chambers all along the circumference, according to the weight imbalance, in a sensing similar to car wheel balancing. Mercury is the heaviest liquid and will occupy minimum volume.

The Indian hotel industry should come together to create hotels and recreation centres in space before others get into the race. We will need hotels, cinema halls, reception halls (for space marriages and birthday bashes), gyms, and other sight seeing sites for space tourists. The big guns should get into the act with ISRO.

Regards,

Rony.