A thread of 2 messages, 19 February 1994 to 19 February 1994, in the order they were sent.
For an interesting description of the pros and cons of G-Tanks, I recommend
the SF Novel 'The Forever War' by Joe Haldeman, especially 'Sergeant Mandela'
chapters 2 and 4 for low tech G-Tanks, and 'Major Mandela' chapter 3 for how
they might develop.
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[email removed]Muir McPherson asks:
>And just for descriptive purposes, does anyone have any idea
>what this [g-compensation tank] thing would look like?
Joe Haldeman's novel _The Forever War_ relies pretty heavily
in one section upon g-tanks as a plot device, and so he describes
their workings in some detail. Essentially, all passengers are
fitted with a valve in their hip. They strip down, enter the g-
tank, and both the tank and their innards fill with a spongy,
oxygenated foam that somehow cushions them from the stresses of
high-g accelerations while not preventing them from breathing.
The things can malfunction, however; apparently if not properly
"fitted".
Haldeman mentions that, while passengers are essentially
cocooned within their shells, the crew's tanks are mobile or
possess waldos that enable them to control the ship while in the
tanks.
Getting in and out of the tanks is a big deal, so most of
the time his ships coast or thrust under constant acceleration.
Some indication is also given of how the tanks get better at
higher "tech levels", but you'd probably have to make the numbers
up yourself.
Bill White
[email removed]