MIT fabricates silk guns to move in non-gravity space

Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have tried many optimal ways to allow astronauts to easily move in non-micro or gravity environments, such as on the International Space Station ISS, for example. and the best solution they give: use a spider shot like a spider !

The device will fire a silk thread with a magnetic head.

Accordingly, astronauts will use a silk shotgun inspired by spiders to pull the body from one point to another. Xin Liu, a technical specialist at MIT, said: "Its mechanism is quite similar to Spider-Man. The device will fire a thread with a magnetic head. When this head comes in contact with a steel plate, it will try to determine the rope to the surface with magnetic force, then the device will start to rewind, like a fishing rod, but in the opposite direction, and pull the user back in. Because of the non-gravity environment, you there is no weight so such a small device can still pull a person around without any problems. "

With more and more astronauts working on space longer, solutions like this will become extremely important. Although astronauts like to try to adjust life in a micro-gravity environment by pushing walls to move, or crawling with handrails, the newly developed silk rifle will help everything become easier and sure to get a certain response from astronauts.

Currently, the MIT device called "Orbit Weaver" has not yet been tested in real orbit. However, Liu had the opportunity to try it on a simulated flight, using the free-fall process to create a weightless feeling in a time span of less than a minute.

"It worked; I could fire the thread and move with it. But I have to say that it's hard to do anything. This is my first time in a non-gravity environment. The weightless process. "The feeling of being dizzy comes very fast. I can't move too fast because of the safety protocols in the plane. Everything we do must comply with federal regulations." - Liu explained.

Liu said MIT has no plans to commercialize this technology (anyway, this is a technology . useless, unless you buy yourself a . space station to use) . However, it still plans to work with partners who wish to push the technology further.