Why hasn't a space station been designed to rotate like a spoked wheel to cause gravity via centrifugal force?

Question

I'd imagine it must have to do with size and expense.

Answer 1

because it is expensive to build and maintain. you could solve the anntenna problem easily. another reason is that its easier to just have astronaughts workout to save muscle mass and bone density. it is also easier to move things around and manuver in zero G.

i hope this helps!!!!!

Answer 2

Well you are right, to make a centrifuge to mimic earth gravity would require something very large or spinning very fast.

It would also not be able to be modular as the entire station would have to be in perfect balance.

It would be difficult if not impossible to power it, after all it does get it's power from solar panels and for those to work they have to be facing the sun.

It would also be extremely difficult to dock with. You dock with the rim of the wheel. In the atmosphere a place can fly a loop de loop, but not in space as there is no air for the wings to catch via friction. The only way you could do it is star spinning very fast and go right for the axle. But that would be very tricky to pull off and it it's not done perfectly it would prolly damage both the station and the craft.

~D

Answer 3

Usually docking and communications problems are cited whenever someone suggests building a rotating space ship ( a rotating ship would, of course, cause its antenna to rotate with the space ship -- the same antenna that has to be kept pointing at the same spot on Earth for communications to work).

Answer 4

Well I know that would work but I think that It would be really big and it would cost too much to build.