title: The role of artificial gravity in the exploration of space.
abstract: Terrestrial animals including the human require regular periodic gravitational (g) stimulation to maintain normal physiologic functions on earth or in space.  Identical g stimulations can be produced in space with inertial forces (G) using a centrifuge.  These stimulations may be made more efficient in preventing physiologic deconditioning by increasing G levels above 1 G.  The effective operational use of the centrifuge in space to prevent physiologic deconditioning from microgravity exposures will require ground-based studies using weightless simulation such as bedrest or dry immersion with laboratories that have human-use centrifuges.  The use of periodic, increased-G exposures in space may offer a practical inexpensive solution in preventing physiologic deconditioning.
authors.affiliation: Armstrong Laboratory, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas 78235-5118, USA.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Burton
mesh_terms: D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D002498:Centrifugation; D006112:Gravitation; D018470:Gravity, Altered; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010507:Periodicity; D013026:Space Flight; D014893:Weightlessness / Q000009:adverse effects; D018544:Weightlessness Countermeasures