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Space Studies Institute wants an orbiting low-gravity research station by 2017
http://ssi.org/2012/04/ssi-update-april-2012-introduction-to-g-lab/
SSI Update April 2012 – Introduction to G-Lab
On April 12, 2012 · Leave a Comment
The Great Enterprise Initiative
Today, the Space Studies Institute is announcing a new Great Enterprise Initiative and two special Projects that we hope will hasten the day when permanent space settlement arrives, fulfilling Professor Gerard K. O’Neill’s vision of forty years ago.
The Great Enterprise Initiative is a road map outlining the technologies and capabilities necessary for settlement. It incorporates five major themes, from Transportation, Resources, Environmental technology to areas of Society and Economy. Progress in all these areas is required for us to accomplish our goal. We will be holding conferences and summer studies workshops during the next few years to flesh out road map details and to begin to address specific challenges.
We are announcing two major Projects. The first is G-Lab, a space-based variable or partial gravity laboratory, described below in more detail. The second is E-Lab, a terrestrial “systems-of-systems” integration lab that will bring together promising closed environment life support technologies into a comprehensive life support solution for space settlement. We will describe the E-Lab effort in the near future. We plan to be meeting with potential donors and sponsors of both of these Projects in the near future.
My presentation given today at the Space Access 2012 Conference in Phoenix Arizona is available at ssi.org/The-Great-Enterprise-SA2012.pdf. We welcome your support of these endeavors.
<snip>
SSI Update April 2012 – Introduction to G-Lab
On April 12, 2012 · Leave a Comment
The Great Enterprise Initiative
Today, the Space Studies Institute is announcing a new Great Enterprise Initiative and two special Projects that we hope will hasten the day when permanent space settlement arrives, fulfilling Professor Gerard K. O’Neill’s vision of forty years ago.
The Great Enterprise Initiative is a road map outlining the technologies and capabilities necessary for settlement. It incorporates five major themes, from Transportation, Resources, Environmental technology to areas of Society and Economy. Progress in all these areas is required for us to accomplish our goal. We will be holding conferences and summer studies workshops during the next few years to flesh out road map details and to begin to address specific challenges.
We are announcing two major Projects. The first is G-Lab, a space-based variable or partial gravity laboratory, described below in more detail. The second is E-Lab, a terrestrial “systems-of-systems” integration lab that will bring together promising closed environment life support technologies into a comprehensive life support solution for space settlement. We will describe the E-Lab effort in the near future. We plan to be meeting with potential donors and sponsors of both of these Projects in the near future.
My presentation given today at the Space Access 2012 Conference in Phoenix Arizona is available at ssi.org/The-Great-Enterprise-SA2012.pdf. We welcome your support of these endeavors.
<snip>
http://www.newspacejournal.com/2012/04/12/ssi-plans-a-great-enterprise-featuring-an-orbital-lab-module/
An illustration of SSI's proposed G-Lab module, along with the scientific question that it hopes to answer.
<snip>
SSI plans to tackle this topic with G-Lab, an ambitious crewed lab module. The concept features a module that would fly in the same orbit as the ISS, trailing the station by about 10 kilometers through the use of electric propulsion. Tugs, like Orbital’s Cygnus and SpaceX’s Dragon, would transfer items between the lab module and ISS. Within the lab module would be dual centrifuges to create lunar and Martian gravity conditions for experiments on plants and small animals. The lab module is designed for launch on a single Falcon Heavy mission.
The plan, according to an SSI presentation, is to have operations begin as soon as early 2017. ...
<snip>
An illustration of SSI's proposed G-Lab module, along with the scientific question that it hopes to answer.
<snip>
SSI plans to tackle this topic with G-Lab, an ambitious crewed lab module. The concept features a module that would fly in the same orbit as the ISS, trailing the station by about 10 kilometers through the use of electric propulsion. Tugs, like Orbital’s Cygnus and SpaceX’s Dragon, would transfer items between the lab module and ISS. Within the lab module would be dual centrifuges to create lunar and Martian gravity conditions for experiments on plants and small animals. The lab module is designed for launch on a single Falcon Heavy mission.
The plan, according to an SSI presentation, is to have operations begin as soon as early 2017. ...
<snip>
Via http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37030
