MISSFIT: Artificial Gravity Generation through High-Frequency Oscillations*

Authors: S. Chen, M. Holcomb, E. Jackovin, X. Kwa, J. Kilburg, A. Lobo, J. Messerli-Wallace, E. Miller, S. Mortenson, T. Parmerlee, G. Summers, M. Tentis, K. Weber, M. Viscarra; T. Kutnink (Mentor), M. Lutrell (Mentor), A. Petridis (Mentor); Prior Contributors: D. Atri, J. Brutger, T. Detwiler, K. Finger, Z. Fisher, J. Flanagan, A. Furman, N. Gautille, T. Havlik, K. Harycki, C. Huber, L. Hofmann, T. Johnson, J. LaFranzo, B. Lyon, L. MacEnulty, M. McCord, G. Menning, E. Morton, N. Peterson, J. Prochaska, A. RC, J. Schertz, K. Sletten, W. Thomas, D. Viscarra, Z. Wellens

 Drake University: Department of Physics and Astronomy and Department of Biology

The creation of artificial gravity is necessary for maintaining human bone and muscle density during interplanetary travel.  Rotating the living quarters of a spacecraft generates a centrifugal force which provides artificial gravity to the spacecraft, although this model is problematic for our purposes.   This has motivated the MISSFIT Collaboration to pursue generating a centrifugal force via high-frequency, small-amplitude oscillatory vibrations.  We are currently designing and building an apparatus to generate said centrifugal force.  Recently, we have overcome issues regarding the design of the oscillator disk holder and developed a working model, and we continue to pursue the next steps towards a finished prototype design through electromagnetic forces.  Generating a centrifugal force equivalent to Earth’s gravitational force and fitting it on a spacecraft would put humanity one step closer to traveling to Mars.