Probably not. All you need is a toy top to see why. A spinning object in a gravitational field will soon start to precess around its spin axis. This will cause complicated forces on humans and spacecraft that would be physically uncomfortable, and even destructive. To provide one Earth gravity to the Shuttle, it would have to spin around its long axis at a rate of 24 rpm. If you have ever ridden in a carnival ride called Vortron, you know exactly how disorienting that kind of spinning can be. You may have a sense of gravity, but the moment you try to move, your inner ear goes nuts and you feel sick to your stomach.

This answer was updated in 2011. See my books: The Astronomy Cafe (1998) and Back to the Astronomy Cafe (2003) for more FAQs in printed form. Author: Dr. Sten Odenwald, Copyright 2011 Return to Ask the Astronomer