To offset the gyroscopic effect, the O’Neill cylinder design consists of two cylinders spinning in opposite directions on a bearing. Each cylinder was designed 20 miles long and 5 miles in diameter, with 6 wide stripes running the length of it (3 habitable spaces and 3 windows). O’Neill envisioned industrial processes and recreational facilities focused on the central axis in a virtually zero-gravity environment.

The difference in gravity is one of the most significant differences between life on Earth and life in space (or on any other celestial body). For stability, artificial gravity is necessary, and the O’Neill cylinder has a provision for this. As the two massive cylinders revolve on their axes, they would use the centripetal force of any item on the inner surface to generate artificial gravity.

Using the cylinder’s size, the acceleration equation: a=v2/r, and the Earth’s acceleration value (i.e., 9.81), we can calculate that the cylinder would need to revolve around 28 times per hour to replicate an adequate gravitational force.

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