Space Sleep Pod

SPACE SLEEPING POD

One of the biggest issues facing astronauts in low gravity environments is their sleeping conditions. On the surface, this may not seem like an exceptionally large problem, but being low on sleep can cause mood swings, weakened immunity, and high blood pressure. It can also cause careless errors and mistakes in a place where they can be detrimental. Currently, astronauts float in small compartments in a sleeping bag-like receptacle. There have been reports of being disturbed by the bright sunlight and even having nightmares in this arrangement. According to Space.com, astronauts average six hours of sleep a night, which is much less than the recommended eight hours. Astronauts’ jobs include tasks that are much more stressful and dangerous than anyone else’s. This means they should be able to be as well rested as possible, which they are not.

Since the biggest issue to overcome is the lack of gravity, we propose a sleeping pod that would spin to mimic the pull of gravity on Earth. Our inspiration came from the popular Gravitron ride at amusement parks. The ride spins very quickly to create a centripetal force that pulls the rider towards the wall and holds them there, even as the floor falls away. Similarly, our pod would rotate at approximately 94 rpm, the speed that would produce 1 G of force on the person, just like on Earth. This would mean that astronauts could feel like they are laying down in a bed, rather than floating aimlessly with no sense of direction. To prevent the astronaut from falling as the pod gets up to speed, the blanket would be fastened to the pod to hold the astronaut in place as it speeds up.

The pod will have no windows to block out any potentially disruptive sunlight. It will also have a small lighting system to provide the perfect amount of light inside. Otherwise, the pod would be in complete darkness. Within the lighting system, there will also be a timer that slowly makes the lights brighter as the time the astronaut needs to wake up gets closer. This will mimic the sunrising in the morning and help to maintain a consistent circadian rhythm.

The space industry is very promising, and it is growing. Now that we have a constant presence in space, we should start to focus more on the experience and the comfort of living there, especially as we strive for longer missions. Improved sleeping environments and lessening the effects of low gravity would allow for astronauts to stay in space longer, making further away and more feasible advanced destinations. Similar technology could be used in other places like the moon and even Mars.

Taking care of the men and women doing important research in space is something everyone can get behind and would create an opportunity for international cooperation. We hope that our idea enhances the work happening at the international space station and helps further the space industry as a whole.

References

Duffy, M. (2021, May 8). The Super Force that pins you to the wall in a Spinning Gravitron. Log in. https://www.thegazette.com/kids-articles/the-super-force-that-pins-you-to-the-wall-in-a-spinning-gravitron/

Shipley, J. (2023, May 18). How do astronauts sleep in space?. Astronomy Magazine. https://www.astronomy.com/space-exploration/how-do-astronauts-sleep-in-space/

Weir, K. (2018, June). Mission to Mars. Monitor on Psychology. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2018/06/mission-mars