Russian state-owned Energia has patented a spacecraft design intended to generate artificial gravity, potentially benefiting long-duration crewed missions.

The design features a rotating system capable of producing 0.5g, using radially attached habitable modules that spin around a central axis at five revolutions per minute.

Each module would have a radius of 131 feet (40 meters) and require multiple launches for orbital assembly, though docking and rotation coordination pose safety challenges.

Artificial gravity could help mitigate the health effects of microgravity, such as muscle atrophy and bone loss, which affect astronauts on long missions, Space.com has reported.

While no timeline or funding has been announced, the patent signals Russian interest in artificial gravity as the International Space Station approaches its planned 2030 deorbit.