The problem of artificial gravity in piloted space exploration missions

The review deals with the problem of using artificial gravity in piloted space missions, its history and relevance to the proclaimed goals of remote space exploration. It contains a brief discussion of deconditioning and loss of acceleration tolerance developing in cosmonauts despite a variety of preventive procedures. Key issues pertaining short-arm centrifuge (SAC) design and in-flight utilization are acceleration tolerance, effectiveness and g-prescriptions. The Russian and international literature on SAC experience in ground-based investigations with simulated microgravity effects (immersion, HDT) gives credence to this approach to counteracting the negative physiological effects of microgravity. Open issues and goals to be gained are described. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.