How are mass calculations done in the weightless environment of space?

[nuby]

Mass calculations in space

If an astronaut wanted to determine the mass of an object in outer space (0g), what is the procedure?

 

[Kazza_765]

Could you though? I would think you would only be able to calculate the moment of inertia, not the actual mass.

You could attach it to a spring with a known spring constant and use simple harmonic motion.

 

[Hootenanny]

Could you though? I would think you would only be able to calculate the moment of inertia, not the actual mass.

One could calculate the mass of a body of known geometry from it's moment of inertia.

You could attach it to a spring with a known spring constant and use simple harmonic motion.

However, I do think this would be the better option.

 

[JimChampion]

Oscillating the inertial mass on a spring was the principle used to measure the mass of astronauts on Skylab.

As I'm new here I can't post urls in my messages yet, but search for "Mass Measurements Aboard Space Station Skylab" with your favourite search engine and you should get a hit from the NASA website which describes the device used to measure the astronauts' mass.

 

[dst]

Which is here for the lazy - http://www-istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/stargaze/Sskylab.htm

 

[JimChampion]

Thanks... a few more posts and I'll have the power to give URLs.