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SPACE ELEVATOR

SPACE ELEVATOR. SPACE ELEVATOR: A NEW WAY TO REACH THE STARS. The Space Elevator is a cable-like tool which could connect the Earth with a fixed structure in outer space. It would provide a permanent link between Earth and outer space. The Space Elevator in Science Fiction.

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SPACE ELEVATOR

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  1. SPACE ELEVATOR

  2. SPACE ELEVATOR: A NEW WAY TO REACH THE STARS The Space Elevatoris a cable-like tool which could connect the Earth with a fixed structure in outer space. It would provide a permanent link between Earth and outer space.

  3. The Space Elevator in Science Fiction

  4. Properties Of Carbon Nanotubes Strong – 200 times stronger than steel. – the first synthetic material to have greater strength than spider silk. Light – 1 square kilometre = 30kg Flexible – Compared to most materials. Heat resistant – resists burning like a metal.

  5. Ribbon Design • The final ribbon is one-meter wide and composed of parallel high-strength fibers • Interconnects maintain structure and allow the ribbon to survive small impacts • Initial, low-strength ribbon segments have been built and tested

  6. Climbers • Climbers built with current satellite technology • Drive system built with DC electric motors • Photovoltaic array (GaAs or Si) receives power from Earth • 7-ton climbers carry 13-ton payloads • Climbers ascend at 200 km/hr • 8 day trip from Earth to geosynchronous altitude

  7. Power Beaming • Power is sent to deployment spacecraft and climbers by laser • Solid-state disk laser produces kWs of power and being developed for MWatts • Mirror is the same design as conventional astronomical telescopes (Hobby-Eberly, Keck)

  8. Anchor • Anchor station is a mobile, ocean-going platform identical to ones used in oil drilling • Anchor is located in eastern equatorial pacific, weather and mobility are primary factors

  9. Challenges • Induced Currents: milliwatts and not a problem • Induced oscillations: 7 hour natural frequency couples poorly with moon and sun, active damping with anchor • Radiation: carbon fiber composites good for 1000 years in Earth orbit (LDEF) • Atomic oxygen: <25 micron Nickel coating between 60 and 800 km (LDEF) • Environmental Impact: Ionosphere discharging not an issue • Malfunctioning climbers: up to 3000 km reel in the cable, above 2600 km send up an empty climber to retrieve the first • Lightning, wind, clouds: avoid through proper anchor location selection • Meteors: ribbon design allows for 200 year probability-based life • LEOs: active avoidance requires movement every 14 hours on average to avoid debris down to 1 cm • Health hazards: under investigation but initial tests indicate minimal problem • Damaged or severed ribbons: collatoral damage is minimal due to mass and distribution

  10. Advantages • Low operations costs - US$250/kg to LEO, GEO, Moon, Mars, Venus or the asteroid belts • No payload envelope restrictions • No launch vibrations • Safe access to space - no explosive propellants or dangerous launch or re-entry forces • Easily expandable to large systems or multiple systems • Easily implemented at many solar system locations

  11. Summary • The space elevator is a revolutionary Earth-to-space transportation system that will enable space exploration • Design, deployment and operational scenarios for the first space elevator have been put together. Potential challenges have been laid out and solutions developed. • Development of the space elevator requires an investment in materials and engineering but is achievable in the near future with a reasonable investment and development plan.

  12. Bochnicek, Z. (2013). A carbon nanotube cable for a space elevator. Physics teacher. Nove2013, Vol. 51 Issue 8, p462- 464. • Bonsor, K. (2000). How space elevators will work. Retrieved from http://www.howstuffworks.com/space-elevator.htm • Clarke, A. C. (1979). The Space Elevator: “Thought Experiment” or Key to the Universe? Advances in Earth Oriented Applied Science Technology • Georgia, F. (2006). The 62,000 mile elevator ride. Business 2.0. Mar2006 Vol. 7 Issue 2, p78-80. • Jorgensen, A.M. (2007). Passive radiation shielding considerations for the proposed space elevator. ActaAstronautica. Feb2007, Vol.60 Issure 3, p198-209. • Markos, P.A. (2013). A heuristic approach for the positioning of elevator hoistways based on the utilization intensity index. Architectural Engineering & Design Management Nov2013,Vol.9 Issue 4. • Nasa. (n.d.). Kennedy space center. Frequently asked questions. Retrieved from. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/information/shuttle_faq.html#1 • Powell, J. (2006). Startram: an ultra-low cost launch system. AIP conference proceedings. 2006, Vol. 813 issue 1, p1071- 1082. 12p. • Pugno, N. M. (2006). On the strength of the carbon nanotube-based space elevator cable: from nanomechanics to megamechanics. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 18(33), S1971 • Pugno, N.M.(2013). Towards the artsutanov’s dream of the space elevator. the ultimate design of a 35 GPa strong tether thanks to graphene. ActaAstronautica. Feb2013, Vol. 82 Issue 2, p221-224. • Takeichi, N. (2012). Geostationary station keeping control of a space elevator during initial cable deployment. Acta Astronautica. Jan2012, Vol. 70, p85-94. • Williams, P. (2009). Dynamic multi body modeling for tethered space elevators. ActaAstronautica. Aug2009, Vol. 65 Issue ¾.

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