Partial G Space Station
The initial idea is to use Bigelow Aerospace inflatable space stations for partial gravity research, because these stations have a much larger diameter than anything that fits in a payload fairing.
A larger diameter station could be used to generate artificial gravity.
Spinning something with the diameter of ISS modules along their long axis would mean a tall astronaut's chest would be in zero G and his head would be "falling up", so these are clearly not suitable for zero gravity research. Spinning them along the short axis would mean the docking bay is under gravity, which means the station would have to be spun down for docking and undocking - and it might even be impossible to spin the station while the crew's "escape boat" is docked!
Several things need to be researched:
- How big are Bigelow stations?
- How much do they cost?
- How heavy are they?
- How much extra payload can we fit inside, eg. to assemble a floor inside the inflatable walls?
- What other modifications do we need to make these stations partial gravity research labs?
- ...
