Meet Jules Ross: The Artist Turned Space Visionary Making Space Human-Friendly Through Earth's First Artificial Gravity Station

While billionaires race to Mars and companies compete to build rockets, Jules Ross is tackling what may be the most fundamental challenge of long-term space habitation: artificial gravity. As founder and CEO of Joules Space Technology, Ross is developing Space Station EO (Earth One), the first commercial artificial gravity station designed to make space truly livable for humans.

His path to space innovation has been anything but conventional, beginning in Paris, France, where he studied under legendary mime artist Marceau Marcel, learning critical lessons about creative problem-solving that would later shape his approach to space technology. "Marceau taught me how to creatively solve problems, no matter what the medium," Ross explains. A later insight from a movement teacher in Berkeley would prove equally influential: "Whenever you make a movement and get a response, every time you repeat that movement, you'll get that same response." This understanding of the connection between action and reaction, creation and impact, would become central to his approach to space innovation.

What drove you to take on artificial gravity - arguably one of the most challenging aspects of long-term space habitation?

"As a kid, whenever someone told me, 'It can't be done,' I took it as a challenge—a problem waiting to be solved," Ross explains. "In my world, there's no such thing as impossible, only something that hasn't been accomplished yet. While other companies focused on launching vehicles and replacing the ISS, no one was addressing the critical need for artificial gravity. As a forward-thinking entrepreneur, I find solving this problem not only challenging but incredibly exciting."

This innovative spirit manifested early. "At seven, I was trying to create a laser in my backyard using different magnifying glasses. At nine, I was writing ideas for self-driving cars. This curiosity has always been there," Ross recalls. Growing up in Florida, watching space launches, planted the seeds of his fascination with space exploration.

His experience producing a space-focused television network later helped him identify the fundamental challenge: "Zero G is an unhealthy place for our bodies. It's not our friend. When I was producing shows dealing with space, I was listening to all the problems, and I realized this is where we really need to expand."

Tell us about Space Station EO. What makes it revolutionary?

Ross outlines a comprehensive vision that addresses the five key hazards of spaceflight identified by NASA: space radiation, isolation, distance from Earth, gravity field, and hostile/close environments. "Our artificial gravity space station will be the first fully-featured platform of its kind," he explains. "It will integrate groundbreaking systems like an electromagnetic field for radiation protection, private crew quarters for comfort, and an immersive lab designed to support emotional well-being."

The station's design represents a fundamental rethinking of human habitation in space. "Eighty-five percent of everything that's on the space station exists here on Earth," Ross notes. "What I did was find it and then redesign it for this platform. You're talking about showers, plants that you can eat and that produce oxygen as carbon scrubbers - shoving as much of Earth as possible into this platform."

The station's technical innovations extend far beyond its dual-environment capability. "We can host two environments on the same platform—1g and 0g—for simultaneous experiments and researcher presence," Ross explains. "It also allows for 1g and Mars-g configurations, enabling critical research on Mars gravity's effects on the human body before missions to the Red Planet."

The station's radiation protection system represents a particularly innovative approach. Ross breaks down the technology: "If you really look at generators, you can break them down to the fundamental three parts - magnets, an armature, and that's pretty much the thrust of a generator. Well, you can build that in space. You can use the rotation of the space station to turn a generator. A five-megawatt generator gives you enough radiation protection to justify doing it." This approach differs from conventional radiation shielding methods, utilizing the station's own movement to generate protective electromagnetic fields.

Another groundbreaking feature is the station's Earth observation capabilities. "It's going to be a manned Earth observation platform so we can move the station where we need to watch whatever we need to - whether it's fires, whether it's flooding, whatever issue that comes up on the planet. If you have a platform up there, they can give you a heads up and allow teams to get to these places, to rescue, to do whatever they need to do."

The validation for this approach came at last year's ISS convention in Boston, where Ross presented his vision for Space Station EO. "The responses were overwhelmingly positive—almost joyful," he remembers. "I heard statements like, 'It's about time,' 'We really need this,' and 'This will change everything.' Even members of the general public shared the same excitement and enthusiasm."

Your experience with The Space Television Network in the mid-90s brought you into contact with space pioneers like Buzz Aldrin. How did that influence your current work?

During his time at TSN, Ross developed over forty original programs, acquired 40,000 hours of space and technology footage, and worked with luminaries like Dr. Buzz Aldrin and Dr. Red Whittaker on the Programming Board. A particularly meaningful experience came when Disney invited him to serve as executive producer for the Astronaut Hall of Fame induction.

"You're there with all the pioneers, listening to what they're talking about," Ross recalls. "I would sit down and talk to Buzz Aldrin, and you could see the passion these people had for advancement. These people risked their lives to advance us, and that's what was really exciting for me - being there with these people and talking to them one on one."

While the network's journey ended when the government auctioned off the transponders, making it financially unviable, the experience helped shape Ross's understanding of the human element in space exploration.

What's your perspective on current efforts to establish lunar and Martian settlements?

Ross offers a unique historical perspective: "When the Vikings explored new lands, they brought as many supplies as they could carry, but gravity wasn't a challenge they had to contend with. We, however, are a gravity-oriented species, and zero gravity is not our friend. The damage caused by prolonged exposure to 0g on the human body is severe, and ignoring this fact won't get us far."

He points to current challenges with the International Space Station: "Most astronauts, when they come back from just being 260 miles up at the space station, have to be carried off the reentry vehicle. Now imagine eight months flying to Mars, landing on Mars - even though the gravitational system is different than ours, our bodies are still affected by being in zero G, so walking on Mars is going to be really difficult."

His vision for Mars exploration is more methodical: "If you had an artificial gravity platform stationed in orbit around Mars, you could split your crews. Twenty people would go down and start construction, and in two weeks they would come back up and shift, and another twenty would go down. They would have spent the time to heal, which is the beauty of being only 260 miles away - with all the damage that your body experiences, the minute you come back to Earth, your body starts healing."

What challenges need to be addressed in the next decade of commercial space development?

Ross identifies several critical hurdles beyond just cost: "The biggest hurdles are the frequency, reliability, and scalability of flights. Rockets are constrained by weather, launch site limitations, and the number of people they can carry into orbit. Adding the challenges posed by climate change, existing launch infrastructure becomes even more vulnerable."

He points to recent events as wake-up calls: "Since June 2024, two astronauts have been stranded aboard the ISS due to several complications—one of the most critical being the failure of their reentry vehicle. This highlights a glaring issue: we're still relying on decades-old, remodeled technology for one of the most essential aspects of space travel—getting people safely to and from orbit."

At Joules Space Technology, Ross has structured a solution-oriented approach through a holding company with eight subsidiaries, each focused on specific challenges of long-term space habitation and advanced spaceflight. The company envisions systems that can house 15 or more crew members in orbit while deploying spacecraft that master escape and reentry, operate multiple times daily, weekly, or monthly, and carry seven crew members per flight—all at a fraction of the current cost, around $200,000 per flight.

"We're looking for investors who want to create a legacy by advancing humanity into deep space while driving innovation in math, science, and technology—and achieving meaningful returns in the process," Ross explains. "Artificial gravity isn't just a solution—it's the foundation for the next era of human potential in space."

About Jules Ross

Jules Ross is a multifaceted professional who has developed a strong background in both engineering and design. As the founder, CEO, and lead designer of Joules Space Technology, he is the driving force behind Space Station EO, dedicating sixteen years to researching and developing groundbreaking designs. His investment of $200,000 in man-hours for the development of the first stage of Space Station EO showcases his commitment and determination.

Ross possesses a unique ability to integrate various industry technologies into his work, enriching the design and functionality of Space Station EO. In his quest for knowledge and excellence, he has collaborated with professors from the University of Michigan and Colorado State University. His interests span multiple domains, including artificial gravity, AI, and space architecture, and he stays updated by attending lectures from prestigious institutions like NASA, JPL, and MIT.

His academic journey includes studying calculus and computer science engineering at the University of Florida, which has equipped him with a solid foundation in both mathematics and technology. Ross's membership in Space Architects reflects his dedication to innovation and forward-thinking in the realm of space exploration.

Beyond his technical achievements, Ross is also an award-winning physical comedian, actor, and Venice Beach legendary performer, featured in the book "Venice Beach, Heart & Soul: 30 Years of Street Performing." This unique combination of artistic creativity and technical expertise gives him a distinctive perspective on making space truly human-friendly, embodying his company's mission: "We Make Space Human Friendly."