Patent ID: 6216984
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: B64G

Abstract:
In a space vehicle having an interior subject to microgravity when in space flight, a habitat module for astronauts comprising:a. a cylindrical module enclosing a living compartment for astronauts, said module having a cylindrical outer wall, opposite end walls, and a longitudinal central axis,b. rotation and thrust support bearings mounting said module within said space vehicle for rotation of said module about said longitudinal central axis to create artificial gravity within said module for astronauts occupying said module,c. a first motor rigidly connected to said space vehicle for rotating said module,d. a flywheel rotatably connected to said space vehicle adjacent to said module is rotated about the said longitudinal central axis of said module, said flywheel having a central longitudinal axis of rotation aligned with the central axis of rotation of said module, said flywheel rotating in an angular direction opposite to the rotation of said module, said flywheel having a moment of inertia sufficient to counter or cancel the inertial forces created when said module is rotated, said longitudinal axial dimension of said module being greater than the height of any astronaut occupant of said module to permit said astronaut to be in a recumbent attitude parallel to said longitudinal central axis along said cylindrical outer wall of said module,e. a second motor rigidly connected to said space vehicle for rotating said flywheel to counter and cancel the inertial forces generated when said module is rotated, andf. access and egress openings through said cylindrical outer wall of said module permit the passage of astronauts between said interior of said space vehicle and said module, a partition wall extending diametrically and substantially the full length of said module to divide said module into two identical compartments, said access and egress openings permitting passage of an astronaut into and out of each of said compartments from and to the exterior of said module.