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By William Van Zyl
*Science and spiritual life parallels.
True North (Verse)
My bones and muscles are feeling weak.
I don’t feel any pull;
The influence of magnetic North is waning.
But wait—I feel something…
It is unfamiliar.
To go with the flow or to resist? – that is the question.
What is this unseen force tugging on my jacket?
It pulls, and it wants to throw me – I could fly apart.
I feel like a cat swung by its tail,
Round, and round, and around,
I feel it in my head; I feel it in my heart.
My joints hurt.
My joints, bones, and muscles are aching,
What is this force drawing me to its core?
Help, I need some respite!
Can anyone tell me,
Are there a different centrifugal force out there?
This one is hurting me.
Some report weightlessness,
They say they don’t feel a thing; they are numb,
There is no pull; they feel alone,
Are there any sensible centripetal;
and centrifugal gravitational forces out there?
Please draw me!
By W. Van Zyl
What are the forces that ‘centrifugals or centripetals’ your life? Or, maybe there is no pull. Are you alone and weightless? Are your joints, bones and muscles aching?
What has Potočnik and the wheel of Von Braun – aeronautical concepts and pioneers – to do with spiritual and other life forces?
In the modern contemporary world that we live in today – being constantly pulled in all different directions and threatening to fly apart – what could we do to keep our joints (faith) muscles (resilience) and bones (hope and promises) strong? Are these foreign forces overpowering you? Have you ever sat down and investigate the ‘gravitational forces’ that are influencing you? Are your bones and muscles weakening? Are your hope and faith dashed? Do you feel unloved?
Maybe you are affected by the lack of solid and consistent centripetal and centrifugal forces? Are you feeling lonely? Have you lost your sense of direction?
In this unusual juxtaposition of science and spirituality, I use an unexpected parallel between the two to drive my point home. You will be pleasantly surprised. Please read on. I address the destroying forces that humans may experience today. However, I offer a possible solution.
Maybe your muscles and bones are strong. This article will confirm and provide additional depth to your strong ‘gravitational forces.’
The first concepts we have to cover are physical: ‘centripetal and centrifugal forces.’ As the ‘world,’ as we know it, is spinning at its known rate, it has a massive impact on us individuals as we navigate the possible future—or is it ‘accelerating?’ We are global citizens. We are confronted by challenges like sustainability problems, population explosion, dwindling resources, increasing carbon footprints, the decline of water quality, climate change, looming wars, cyberspace issues, food shortages, to name a few.
Let’s look at the physics of centripetal and centrifugal forces and what the concepts mean.
Centripetal force diagram: For example, the earth (large blue sphere) orbiting around the sun (small white coloured circle in the centre). Not to scale. The centripetal force of the sun (centre) pulls the earth constantly towards it. It is called gravity. Source: Wikimedia. User:Booyabazooka
Diagram Centrifugal and Centripetal Forces. Rotation of a body (green sphere) around the blue cylinder. The red coloured arrow shows the outward force (centrifugal). The grey colour arrow shows the centripetal force – inwards, toward the blue cylinder. Credit: Wikimedia Svjo
How could a science lesson, or an illustrated scientific concept, provide a spectacular model for mental health, motivation, and philosophical reasoning? Can a scientific model or concept shed light on everyday living? What we need today is equilibrium. The ‘weakening of joints, muscles and bones’ are rife. In the modern world that we live in today – pulled in all different directions and threatening to fly apart – the question arises of how could we keep our joints, muscles, and bones strong and healthy? What do I mean by a weakening of joints, muscles, and bones, you may ask? Some are experiencing no gravitational force; they are ‘weightless.’
Let me offer an explanation. By looking at two pioneering aeronautical scientists and engineers of the past: Herman Potochnik (Slovenia/Hungary) and Wernher Von Braun (German/US). Their interest and passions? Solving the problem of space travel and space living in the future. The problem of living in space is the weakening of the human body over a short period.
Herman Potočnik (he changed his name to Hermann Doordung). Austra-Hungarian Engineer (1892-1929). Credit: Wikipedia
Table of Contents
Who is Potočnik? Herman Potočnik a visionary who attempted to solve the problem of space travel: Namely, overcoming the lack of gravity (weightlessness) in space for health reasons.
Herman Potočnik – the Slovenian engineer interested in space travel and space living – died at the age of 36 in 1929. Little was known about him at the time of his death.
Potočnik dedicated the last years of his life to space travel and space living. He realised the problems and offered a solution. In his book ‘The Problem of Space Travel: The Rocket Motor’ – translated from German to English in 1929 – he gives an account of the problems and a possible solution. His big idea? Spinning a space station to produce centrifugal and centripetal forces.
Description of a space station in Hermann Noordung’s The Problem of Space Travel (1929). (Legend: Achs-Körper: axle body. Aufzugschacht: elevator shaft. K: electric cable to an external observatory. Kondensatorrohre: condenser pipes. S: airlock. Treppenschacht: stairwell. Verdampfungsrohr: boiler pipe). By Herman Potočnik – Own photograph, at an exhibit in Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6227147
As we know, humans can only live for several months in space. After a prolonged period in space – floating weightlessly – the bones and muscles weaken, the pressure of the eyeballs decreases. Can you remember seeing footage of astronauts who are carried from the spacecraft and space shuttles after returning to earth? They are not strong enough to walk. The lack of gravitational forces in space and the consequential weakening of human bodies is the problem Potočnik addressed this problem in his short life as an engineer.
Other facts about living in space are that it is very dangerous. Without protection, people would not be able to survive there. In space, there’s no air – so you can’t breathe. It’s cold – so you could freeze. And, there’s lots of nasty radiation (from the Sun, and the rest of the Universe), so you could get sunburned.
Von Braun, after Potočnik’s efforts, picked up where Potochnik had left his solution and built on his ideas:
A rotating wheel space station, or a Von Braun wheel, is a hypothetical wheel-shaped space station that rotates about its axis, thus creating an environment of artificial gravity.
Concept: Wernher Von Braun. Artwork: Chesley Bonestell. Credit Wikipedia.
About the wheel of Wernher Von Braun:
The illustration shows a Von Braun 1952 space station concept. In a 1952 series of articles written in Collier’s, Dr Wernher von Braun, then Technical Director of the Army Ordnance Guided Missiles Development Group at Redstone Arsenal (US), wrote of a large wheel-like space station in a 1,075-mile orbit. This station, made of flexible nylon, would be carried into space by a fully reusable three-stage launch vehicle. Once in space, the station’s collapsible nylon body would be inflated much like an automobile tire. The 250-foot-wide wheel would rotate to provide artificial gravity, an important consideration at the time because little was known about the effects of prolonged zero-gravity on humans. Von Braun’s wheel was slated for several important missions: a way station for space exploration, a meteorological observatory and navigation aid. Illustrated by artist Chesley Bonestell.
Still with his rocket models, von Braun is pictured in his new office at NASA headquarters in 1970. Credit: By NASA. Originally uploaded on 3 April 2004 by en:User:GeneralPatton. – http://nix.nasa.gov/info?id=MSFC-7005045, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=202144
Almost seventy years later, in 2018 and 2019, a brilliant idea for a space hotel was revealed. See the details and a video of this extravagant concept at the end of this article. Below is a picture of the modern futuristic space hotel. As you have probably heard – Elon Musk of SpaceX – has plans and dreams to take people to Mars in the future.
A future floating space hotel. Image credits: Gateway Foundation & Dezeen. Link: https://bigthink.com/technology-innovation/space-hotel-artificial-gravity-2025-plans?rebelltitem=3#rebelltitem3
Credit: https://bigthink.com/technology-innov…
Back to the centripetal forces that provide gravity for balanced living. Allow me to use a Christian model to explain. Later I would like to challenge you to consider the centripetal force that brings balance to your life. But, for now, let’s look at the Biblical model (the writers’ interpretation). From a spiritual perspective the greatest centripetal force is God’s Love.
CENTRIPETAL FORCE 1 = 1 John 4: 7 & 8
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
The most significant thing that draws me to God is this fact: God is my Father, and He loves me. That is a massive force! It will hold your muscles (resilience), your bones (promises and hope) intact. No matter what, God loves me. He cares — his promises to give me a hope and a future.
CENTRIPETAL FORCE 2 = Jeremiah 29:11
‘For I Know The Plans I Have For You’ Declares the Lord, ‘Plans to Prosper You and Not to Harm You, Plans to Give You Hope and a Future.’
CENTRIPETAL FORCE 3 = 2 Corinthians 1:20
20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
Layered sketch (diagram): The background image in the diagram (picture) is a moon crater. Crater named: LO-IV-183H – The strong shadow on the left is from 49-km Lavoisier E. Below it is 25-km Lavoisier B, also with a strong shadow. Just outside von Braun’s northeast rim is the rather inconspicuous 17-km Harding B. It is on the southern rim of what looks like an ancient unnamed crater. Von Braun’s work – pictures of the moon. Credit: Wikimedia. Author – Lunar Orbiter – IV. Credit sketch: W Van Zyl. Explanation of the diagram (spiritual): ‘God’s love is at the centre. A human is depicted by the large circle.’ The centrifugal force (drawing man to God) can be explained as: ‘Once man accepted Christ he/she is filled with the Spirit of God. That love (Agape love) extends to all humans.’ In short, the centripetal force can be explained by the words: ‘Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul … and love thy neighbour as thyself.’ Then the command of Christ follows, ‘Go and preach the Gospel to every creature…(centrifugal force).’
A summary of those ‘gravitational forces.’
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And, the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Mark 12: 30 & 31
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16: 15 & 16
Diagram: ‘The Centripetal force: The love of God.’ The simple diagram endeavours to explain the power of God’s love for man. God is Love. This powerful centrifugal force pulls man – His creation – to Him. It never relaxes; it is everlasting. The large circle represents the human state of ‘being.’ Man consists of Body Souls and Spirit. Note I have included Faith and Hope as an additional centripetal force. Almost like an alloy (a mixture of the Love of God, Faith in God, and Hope in Him). Credit: W. Van Zyl.
The centrifugal forces – the pull outward
Now that I have named the centripetal forces, it is time to discuss the centripfugal forces. Forces that pull outward. Once a person accepts Christ and is filled with the Holy Spirit, a force from within produces powerful love (Agape love = God’s love). This love wants to tell of the love of God, of His goodness, and His mercy. It is a force that works powerfully from the inside. And, that is exactly what I am doing here in this article. Telling.
CENTRIFUGAL FORCE 1 = Mark 15:16
He (God) said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
The function of the other ten planets in our solar system.
As we know, gravitational forces are exercised by every celestial body on each other. That is why the earth and its surrounding ten planets create perfect gravitational harmony. Not too much push and not too much pull – just the right amount to ensure equilibrium.
Initially, only nine planets were identified in our solar system. However, discoveries suggest that there is a tenth one. A name like 2003 UB313 doesn’t sound very exciting, but this far-flung body of rock and ice has rocked the world of astronomy. At about 3,000 kilometres (1,864 miles) across, it is a bit larger than Pluto, and it looks to be a lot farther away — about three times as far. But it does travel in the same circles (orbitpaths) as the other nine planets in the solar system.
What a coincidence that there are ten planets. I want to compare the influence of the planets to the ten commandments in the Bible. It has an amazing function to bring stability in every person and society. The gravitational forces include:
The Ten Commandments appear twice in the Hebrew Bible: in the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy. The commandments include instructions to worship only God, to honour one’s parents, and to keep the sabbath day holy, as well as prohibitions against idolatry, blasphemy, murder, adultery, theft, dishonesty, and coveting.
What is the first and strongest gravitational force for equilibrium? Love the Lord thy God. Worship Him.
My challenge to you
Now that I have explained the Christian model, may I ask you a couple of questions? I wonder what are the cenrtripetal and centrifugal forces in your life? What are those fundamental things that drive you? What are the ‘ten planets’ and their gravitational pull in your life? Which ones are the strongest? I am referring to those truths and values that get you excited every day. Those values and beliefs that govern your very being. Those things that provide hope, resilience in adversity, and those things that provide hope to you in a ‘dark night.’
I include more details about the Wheel idea of Wernher Von Braun. So cool!
More about Von Braun’s Wheel
In 1956 the idea or concept of Wernher Von Braun was released. The video shows the science behind his work.
The newest development based on Von Braun’s Wheel idea (future plans 2025).
Planning for 2025: The Von Braun Space Hotel – The Gateway Foundation.
In an interview with Dezeen on 31 August 2019, Paul Ratner reports:
‘The World’s first space hotel with artificial Gravity will be in orbit in 2025. The Gateway Foundation is building a space hotel named as Von Braun Space station, which is based on the concepts of an American rocket scientist Wernher von Braun. Robots and drones will be used to assemble the hotel in orbit itself. It is expected that the first-ever space hotel will be operational by 2025. The shape of the space hotel will be like an enormous wheel having a diameter of 623 feet. The wheel-shaped giant space hotel will rotate slowly to generate a gravitational force. The Hotel will have 24 individual modules with sleeping and support facilities. These individual modules will be spread around the wheel on three decks. The space hotel would be able to accommodate about 400 people in total. Actually, the Von Braun Space Station would be made of two rotating concentric rings which would provide artificial Gravity one-sixth as strong as Earth’s.
The Artificial gravity will provide the sense of direction and orientation, and it would be easy to perform the basic tasks like walking, eating food, going to a toilet and showering, the way we are used to on Earth. “Eventually Going to space will just be another option people will pick for their vacation, just like going on a cruise, or going to Disney World.”
Tim Alatorre, a senior design architect of the Von Braun Space Station, said in an interview with Dezeen. Here it is interesting to note that Wernher Von Braun, the man behind the first space hotel, was a top Nazi rocket scientist who developed the infamous V2 rocket. He was taken in by NASA after the war. There he became a famous American scientist. According to Tim Alatorre, the senior design architect of Von Braun Space Station, the space hotel will be something like a cruise ship. It will have many of the things you see on cruise ships: Restaurants, bars, musical concerts, movie screenings, and educational seminars.” just in space. As the demand for such vacations in space grows, the Gateway Foundation intends to build bigger space stations. They call the next class of space station “The gateway”. It would have the capacity to accommodate more than 1400 people in total.’
Credit: https://bigthink.com/technology-innov…
Aliens in this world?
Christians are described as aliens – a peculiar people
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 1 Peter 2:9
About the author:
The author is passionate about Christian perspectives and Christian philosophical thinking. He loves to write about many different matters and issues, that relates to real-life situations. Science and the scriptures inspire him – those extravagant links between the two – it creates a spark for new stories and articles. He loves to explore different perspectives and paradigms; he then compares it to a Kingdom perspective. However, he always ends up with the Kingdom’s view. The centripetal forces mentioned in this article are just too strong to let him go. It is like an unseen magnet! The centrifugal forces are just too strong for him – he can’t be silent. He is a lifelong scholar and student.
More about the author: http://williamvanzyl.com/
Read more online: https://fivehousepublishing.com/
Copyright © 2020 by William Van Zyl
Space Wheel Gravity: Your Spiritual Force
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Published by Five House Publishing (New Zealand)
First Publishing, 2020
