Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Latest By
Category:
Armor
Artificial
Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual
Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work
"I have been a soreheaded occupant of a file drawer labeled 'Science Fiction' and I would like out, particularly since so many serious critics regularly mistake the drawer for a urinal."
- Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
 |
| Gravity-Simulator Harness | ||
| Device that simulates gravity's effect on muscles to keep in shape while in space. |
Lots of physiological changes occur in zero gravity. The pull of gravity on Earth provides a resistive force that automatically maintains muscles and bones. Perhaps some sort of device would help you maintain muscle tone?
| "When we got back," Joe told Brown, "we were practically invalids. No
exercise up here. This time we've brought some harness to wear. We've some for you, too..."
Joe got out the gravity-simulator harnesses. He showed Brent how they worked. Brown hadn't official instructions to order their use, but Joe put one on himself, set for full Earth-gravity simulation. He couldn't imitate actual gravity, of course. Only the effect of gravity on one's muscles. There were springs and elastic webbing pulling one's shoulders and feet together, so that it was as much effort to stand extended—with one's legs straight out—as to stand upright on Earth. Joe felt better with a pull on his body. Brent was upset when he found that to him more than a tenth of normal gravity was unbearable. But he kept it on at that. If he increased the pull a very little every day, he might be able to return to Earth, in time. Now it would be a very dangerous business indeed. He went off to put the other members of the crew in the same sort of harness. |
| Technovelgy from Space Tug,
by Murray Leinster. Published by Not known in 1953 Additional resources -
|
I know that NASA worked on devices to keep astronauts in shape in the early 1970's on Skylab. I'm sure the Russians had their own version for their cosmonauts.
Studies have shown that astronauts regain lost blood volume within a few days; muscle mass can be recouped within a month or so. It may take a day on Earth for every day in space for full recovery of muscle function. Some changes, like bone mass loss, may never fully return.
Read more about The Zero G Battle: How Astronauts and Cosmonauts Cope
Comment/Join this discussion ( 1 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Space Tug
More Ideas
and Technology by Murray Leinster
Tech news articles related to Space Tug
Tech news articles related to works by Murray Leinster
Gravity-Simulator Harness-related
news articles:
- Astronaut Tim Peake Completes Space Marathon
- COLBERT Treadmill Long SF History
- Adaptability Training System Helps Space Travelers Return
- Astronaut Exercise Video, Predicted By SF Writers
- ARED Keeps ISS Astronauts Fit
- ROCKY - Resistive Overload Combined With Kinetic Yo-Yo
- LBNP Device Not Quite 'Artificial Gravity'
- Tiangong Space Station! Exercise Like It's 1953
| SpaceX Wants A Moonbase Alpha |
| NASA Wants Self-Driving Or Remote-Controlled Vehicles For Lunar Astronauts |
| Orbital Mechanics, The Liftoff, The Turnover, The Retrograde Burn |
| Can A Human Land A SpaceX Rocket On Its Tail? |
Want to Contribute an
Item?
It's easy:
Get the name of the item, a
quote, the book's name and the author's name, and Add
it here.
| <Previous | Next> |
|
|
|
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Science Fiction Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
|
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
'... making the point that their likenesses, every move they made, were being transmitted.'
'But the stars are only atoms in larger space, and in that larger space the star-atoms could combine to form living matter, thinking matter, couldn't they?'
'...to build up a video picture would require, say, ten million decisions every second. Mike, you're so fast I can't even think about it. But you aren't that fast.'
'The area affected was five hundred kilometres across, and perfectly circular.'
'Hasan always pitched a Gauzy - a one-molecule-layer tent, opaque, feather-light, and very tough.'
'And he had been sent with troops, supplies and bombs to command Russia's most trusted post, the Moonbase.'
'What is your population', I asked. 'About eighty millions.'
'THE autobus turned silently down the wide street of Hydropole. Robot-guided, insulated from noise and cold...'
