Japanese Researchers Plan to Create Earth's Gravity on the Moon

Japanese researchers have released plans to recreate Earth’s gravity level on the moon.

The effort aims to support plans by the United States and other countries to build long-term bases for humans on the moon.

The low gravity on the moon will affect the humans living there in important ways. The American space agency NASA notes that the gravity on the moon’s surface is one-sixth the gravity we experience on Earth.

How to “make” gravity

Designers working on plans to recreate Earth’s level of gravity, known as “1 g,” on the moon proposed the use of a centrifugal system. Centrifugal force is created by circular motion. The centrifuge rotates very fast to force the material in it away from the center or axis point, NASA explains.

This planned system will create false gravity in the enclosed space on the lunar surface.

The project is a partnership between researchers at Japan’s Kyoto University and engineers at Japanese building company Kajima. The researchers say the centrifugal system could also work on Mars. The two organizations recently announced that they would be launching a joint study on environmental development.

“Humanity is now moving from era from ‘living’ in space to the era of ‘living’ on the Moon and Mars,” said a statement issued by Kyoto University’s SIC Human Space Center.

The researchers say they plan to “develop” infrastructure” to support human life on the moon and Mars. This will involve building “artificial gravity” habitat” in both places.

The planned large structure will be designed with living space, as well as a small forest and waterfront. The team named its lunar project Lunar Glass. It said a simplified version of the structure could be built on the moon by 2050.

Yosuke Yamashiki is the director of the SIC Human Space Center. He told Japan Asahi Shimbun newspaper, “There is no such plan in other countries’ space development plans.” Yamashiki added that the plan “represents an important technology” that will allow humans to move into space for extended periods of time.

US, Russia, China planning long-term space projects

The American space agency NASA plans to return humans to the moon as early as 2025 as part of its Artemis program. The program also calls for establishing a long-term base on the moon that could one day launch astronauts to Mars.

Last year, China and Russia signed an agreement to set up an international lunar research station on the lunar surface.

And American billionaire and SpaceX chief Elon Musk says he wants to launch humans to Mars on his company’s rocket by 2030.

Why is gravity important to humans?

Japanese researchers say one of the main goals of the artificial gravitational environment is to allow people to live on the moon or Mars without suffering any adverse physical effects. Several studies have shown that the human body can be harmed by the lack of gravity in space.

The team said in a statement that an artificial gravitational environment could allow humans to give birth on places like the moon or Mars. In addition, children can develop and grow normally. However, the researchers note that a lot of research and testing will be needed to identify true health benefit artificial gravity in space.

By living in such an environment, “humans will be able to have children without” worry and maintain good physical condition allow them to return to Earth at any time,” the researchers said.

Another part of the project involves plans to build a transportation system to travel between Earth, the moon and Mars. The so-called “Hexagon Space Track” will use the same artificial gravity technology as the proposed structure, the researchers said. The system will be designed to allow vehicles to stop at “stations” – built on satellites – orbiting the moon or Mars.

I’m Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from Kyoto University, Kajima, Reuters and NASA.

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Words in This Story

axis – n. the imaginary center line around which an object rotates

false – adj. not natural, but man-made

era – n. a period of time in history that is special for a particular reason

infrastructure – n. basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) needed for a country or region

habitat – n. natural environment of plants or animals

profit – n. helpful or good effect

worry – n. feeling very worried

allow – v. to allow

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