Generation and Applications of Extra-terrestrial Environments on Earth

Generation and Applications of Extra-Terrestrial Environments on Earth has been prepared under the auspice of the European Low Gravity Research Association (ELGRA) whose main task is to foster the scientific community in Europe and beyond conducting gravity and space-related research. The text covers ground-based research instruments and environments for both life and physical sciences research. It discusses the opportunities and limitations of protocols and instruments to compensate for gravity or simulate microgravity such as clinostats, random positioning machines, levitating magnets, electric fields, vibrations, tail suspension, or head down tilt, and centrifuges for hyper-g studies. Other space environmental conditions are addressed such as cosmic radiation or Mars atmospheric and soil properties to be replicated and simulated on Earth. Furthermore, this book deals with long duration of manned missions, personal well-being, and crew interaction.

This publication is dedicated to the scientific community and the next generation of scientists and engineers interested in space research and the means to use Earth to reproduce the space environment. ELGRA provides a comprehensive description of space conditions and the means that have been developed on Earth to perform space environmental and (micro-) gravity related research.