Microgravity Sci. Technol (2009) 21:279 DOI 10.1007/s12217-009-9155-3 Jack J. W. A. van Loon Received: 24 June 2009 / Accepted: 24 June 2009 / Published online: 16 July 2009 © The Author(s) 2009. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com This special issue of Microgravity Space and Tech- studies benefit quite a lot by using a range gravity nology, MST, has emerged from two back to back levels. Centrifuges are widely used in human and ani- workshops: The “Technology for Artificial Gravity and mal studies, in cell and plant biology but also in material Microgravity Simulation” workshop at ESA-ESTEC, science, fluid and plasma physics and geological studies. Noordwijk, the Netherlands combined with the first In this sense hypergravity is complementary to a pure public demonstration of the Large Diameter Cen- space flight program. It is also clear that microgravity trifuge (LDC), and the workshop on “Artificial Grav- simulators, although bearing several artifacts, are very ity” including demonstration of the DESDEMONA useful in preparing for real space flight experiments or facility at TNO Human Factors Research Institute in as stand alone research facilities. Soesterberg, the Netherlands, in December 2007. As guest editors of this volume I would like to thank Both workshops covered the technology, use and all the participants, who stimulated the workshops by application of centrifuges and microgravity simulation presenting and discussing the results of their research systems for gravity related research. DESDEMONA and thereby contributing to the advancement of gravity as a human rated system, while the...