DOCSLIB.ORG

Extra-Terrestrial Space Elevators and the Nasa 2050 Strategic Vision T

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Extra-Terrestrial Space Elevators and the Nasa 2050 Strategic Vision T Planetary Science Vision 2050 Workshop 2017 (LPI Contrib. No. 1989) 8172.pdf EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL SPACE ELEVATORS AND THE NASA 2050 STRATEGIC VISION T. Marshall Eubanks1, C.F. Radley1, 1Asteroid Initiatives LLC, Clifton, VA 20124 USA; [email protected]; Introduction: Extra-terrestrial space elevators can provide a transportation network to help fulfill NASA’s Counterweight strategic exploration goals for the next three decades. 15000 Probe While a terrestrial space elevator is not currently pos- 10000 5000 sible without developments in material science, space Moon elevators for the Moon and Mars are possible with ex- 0 isting and commercially produced tether material. El- -5000 evators for Ceres and other asteroids are also techn- -10000 cially feasible and may become relevant within the next -15000 Earth Perpindicular to Lunar orbital plane (km) -30000 -20000 -10000 0 10000 20000 30000 three decades. We have proposed a Deep Space Tether Earth-Moon Radial Direction (km) Pathfinder (DSTP) to provide a solid scientific return while testing tether engineering in deep space, a Lu- nar Space Elevator (LSE) Infrastructure (LSEI) for de- ployment as a functional lunar transport system, and a Figure 1: Trajectories of the two tips of the DSTP during Phobos-Anchored Mars Space Elevator (PAMSE) for a sample collection from the Lunar South Pole, as seen delivery of material to and from the Martian surface. from a selenocentric reference frame [2]. The counter- This paper discusses how these elevators can be inte- weight is considerably more massive than the probe and grated into the NASA Strategic Vision for 2050. is thus closer to the tether center-of-mass, which exe- cutes a smooth ballistic motion. This Figure represents The Deep Space Tether Pathfinder: The DSTP ∼6 hours of total motion. would be a 5000 kilometer long “rotovator” tether [1]. The DSTP would fly by the Moon with a sampling probe on the far tip to collect lunar samples in a touch-and- be a very long tether extending from the lunar Surface, go manner [2], rotating every 2.44 hours to match the through the Earth-Moon Lagrange L1 point (EML-1) velocity of its sampling tip with the lunar surface (see 56,000 km above the Moon, and deep into cis-lunar Figure 1). The sampling capability of the DSTP would space [5]. Table 1 indicates the enormous scale of even a enable sample return from difficult to reach and scientif- prototype LSE; once deployed it could be used to trans- ically interesting regions of the Moon, such as the per- port materials to and from the lunar surface through the manently shadowed regions at the lunar poles [2]. Ap- use of solar-powered climbers traveling up and down proximately 2 hours after sample collection the DSTP the tether, and to provide measurement stations at non- would use its rotational velocity to sling-shot the sam- inertial locations in deep space. The LSEI prototype, ple back to Earth for a ballistic reentry with a minimal scaled to be deployable with one launch of a heavy lift expenditure of fuel. vehicle, would be able to lift roughly 5 tons of lunar The primary scientific justification of the DSTP mis- samples per year, deploy a similar quantity of equip- sion would be lunar sample return; its lunar science ob- ment onto the lunar surface, and provide lunar surface jectives address every one of goals in the “Lunar Polar samples to astronauts orbiting in cis-lunar habitats. Volatiles and Associated Processes” white paper sub- The LP attached to the tether descends to the lunar mitted to the 2011 Decadal Survey [3]. Current DSTP surface in the initial prototype deployment, referred to mission planning has focused on sampling volatiles on after landing as the Landing Station (LS); the planned ◦ the shadowed floor of Shackleton Crater at the lunar nearside LS location is Sinus Medii, near 0 Latitude South Pole, which is a cold-trap and should collect sub- and Longitude. The primary initial science goal of the stantial amounts of surface volatiles from collisions and LSEI prototype mission would be the return of the lu- out-gassing on other areas of the Moon [4]. nar samples to Earth, returning up to 100 kg of samples The DSTP would have a tether taper comparable to at a time using a reusable solar-powered lifter. Return future space elevators (see Figure 2), providing an in- to Earth from a nearside LSE can be done in principle space test of the crucial technology of tether tapering, without fuel, as a sample return capsule could be sim- providing a substantial advance in the technological ply released at the right moment for a direct reentry tra- readiness of tether-based space tethers. jectory to a desired landing location; anything separated Prototype Lunar Space Elevators for the Near from the LSE an altitude & 220,670 km above lunar sur- ∼ and Farside: A LSE is an efficient means of cargo face will re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere in 1.4 days ∼ −1 transport if there is enough demand for delivery of ma- at a velocity of 10.9 km s without any expenditure terials to and from the lunar surface. The LSEI would of fuel. This same technique can be used to return high Planetary Science Vision 2050 Workshop 2017 (LPI Contrib. No. 1989) 8172.pdf Parameter Elevator DSTP Nearside LSE Farside LSE PAMSE Length (km) 5000 278544 297308 5828 System Mass (kg) 3043 48700 48700 5355 Surface Payload (kg) 150 128 110 150 Total Taper (max / min area) 3.50 2.49 2.49 7.67 Maximum Force (N) 988 517 446 4107 Landing Site Lunar Poles 0◦ E 180◦ E Equatorial Table 1: Prototype Space Teathers and Elevators [5, 6]. String Linear Density for the Deep Space Tether Pathfinder Prototype Elevators be a Phobos-Anchored Mars Space Elevator (PAMSE) 1.4 Phobos Anchored Mars SE [9, 10], which would use the mass of the Martian moon DSTP 1.2 Lunar Space Elevator as a counterweight, considerably shortening the length, and reducing the total mass required, at the cost of not 1 being able to anchor to the Martian surface. A PAMSE 0.8 with the same carrying capacity of a LSE would have ∼ 0.6 only 12% of the mass of the prototype LSE. Although a PAMSE would not have a zero velocity 0.4 relative to the Martian surface, the average relative ve- String Linear Density (kg / km) 0.2 locity between the PAMSE lower tip and the surface of Mars is ∼530 m/sec, roughly Mach 2 in the cold Mar- 0 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 tian atmosphere, slow enough that it should not cause Distance from lower tip in km significant heating of the tip even near the Martian sur- face. With a height of 14 km the Pavonis Mons volcano Figure 2: The linear density (taper) of various optimum is by a good margin the highest feature underneath the tether models, the full length of the PAMSE (the solid elevator. This mountain could serve as a surface base for red curve) and the DSTP (the dashed blue curve) and elevator logistics, or the elevator tip could use its veloc- the near surface part of the much longer LSE (the dot- ity to act as a fast transport near the surface, potentially dashed green curve). See Table 1 for more details on even rendezvousing with aircraft in the Martian atmo- these models. (These tethers use Zylon with a design sphere. maximum stress of 4.64 Gigapascals.) References: [1] R. L. Forward (1991) in AIAA/ASMA/SAE/ASEE 27th Joint Propulsion Confererence value ore samples or mining products from a lunar min- AIAA–91–2322. [2] T. M. Eubanks (2012) in Lunar and Planetary Science Conference vol. 43 of Lunar and ing enterprise. Planetary Inst. Technical Report 2870. [3] National Research An elevator on the lunar farside could fulfill many of Council (2011) Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the scientific and logistical goals of a nearside LSEI, the Decade 2013-2022 National Academies Press, but would also provide unique advantages of its own Washington, D.C. [4] D. A. Paige, et al. (2010) Science [6, 7, 5], including facilitating farside sample return. 330:479 doi. [5] T. M. Eubanks, et al. (2016) Space Policy The farside landing point would also be an ideal location 37P2:97. [6] T. M. Eubanks (2013) in Annual Meeting of the for a farside radio telescope sensitive to the virtually un- Lunar Exploration Analysis Group LPI Contributions 7047. explored radio spectrum at frequencies . 10 MHz [8]; [7] T. M. Eubanks, et al. (2015) in Annual Meeting of the an EML-2 LSEI would considerably reduce the cost of Lunar Exploration Analysis Group vol. 1863 of LPI building and supplying a lunar farside radio telescope Contributions 2014. [8] S. Jester, et al. (2009) New doi arXiv:0902.0493 system, enabling both the installation of antennas on the Astronomy Reviews 53:1 . [9] L. M. Weinstein (2003) in Conf.on Thermophysics in surface at the LS, as well as vertically using the lower Microgravity; Commercial/Civil Next Generation Space portion of the elevator as a antenna tower [7]. Decamet- Transportation; Human Space Exploration vol. 654 of AIP ric and kilometric radio astronomy could be conducted Conference Proceedings 1227–1235. [10] T. M. Eubanks during the lunar night, when radio interference from the (2012) Global Space Exploration Conference Sun is also blocked and when solar powered climbers GLEX–2012.02.P .2x12186 IAF/AIAA. would not be using the near surface part of the LSE. The Phobos Anchored Martian Space Elevator: A logical follow-on to the DSTP and the LSEI would.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • NIAC 2002-2003 Annual Report
    TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...............................................................................................................................................1 ACCOMPLISHMENTS Summary ................................................................................................................................................................2 Call for Proposals CP 01-01 (Phase II)...................................................................................................................2 Call for Proposals CP 01-02 (Phase I)....................................................................................................................3 Call for Proposals CP 02-01 (Phase II)...................................................................................................................4 Call for Proposals CP 02-02 (Phase I)....................................................................................................................5 Phase II Site Visits..................................................................................................................................................5 Infusion of Advanced Concepts into NASA.............................................................................................................6 Survey of Technologies to Enable NIAC Concepts.................................................................................................8 Special Recognition for NIAC Concept ...................................................................................................................9
    [Show full text]
  • Lunar Space Elevator Infrastructure
    Lunar Space Elevator Infrastructure A Cost Saving Approach to Human Spaceflight within a 15-year Constrained NASA Budget White Paper Submitted at the Open Invitation of the National Research Council 2013 Lunar Space Elevator Infrastructure In Response to the National Research Council’s Study on the Benefits, Challenges and Ramifications of America’s Human Spaceflight Program. LiftPort Group presents a Cost-Effective Approach to Human Spaceflight within a 15-year Constrained NASA Budget. | MICHAEL LAINE – PRESIDENT, LIFTPORT GROUP | CHARLES RADLEY MSC., – ADVISOR, LIFTPORT GROUP | MARSHALL EUBANKS MSC., – ADVISOR, LIFTPORT GROUP | JEROME PEARSON MSC., – ADVISOR, LIFTPORT GROUP | PETER SWAN PHD., – ADVISOR, LIFTPORT GROUP | LEE GRAHAM (NASA – HIS VIEWS DO NOT REFLECT HIS EMPLOYER) | | 8 JULY 2013 | LIFTPORT GROUP | 1307 Dogwood Hill RD SW, Port Orchard, WA, 98366 | www.liftport.com | (862) 438-5383 | [email protected] LiftPort’s Lunar Space Elevator Infrastructure: Affordable Response to Human Spaceflight What are the important benefits provided to the United States and other countries by human spaceflight endeavors? The ability to place humans in space is exciting to the public, and demonstrates the technological maturity and stature of each spacefaring nation. Such a visible and peaceful demonstration of cutting edge technology fosters foreign policy by showing Page | 1 strength without engaging in conflicti. Human spaceflight sparks the imagination and serves an instinctive need to explore. Astronauts are ambassadors for all of humanity in a very personal way. Men and women in space suits inspire people – of all cultures and demographics – to achieve excellence, to believe in a common cause and to pursue a noble goal.
    [Show full text]
  • Asteroid Retrieval Feasibility Study
    Asteroid Retrieval Feasibility Study 2 April 2012 Prepared for the: Keck Institute for Space Studies California Institute of Technology Jet Propulsion Laboratory Pasadena, California 1 2 Authors and Study Participants NAME Organization E-Mail Signature John Brophy Co-Leader / NASA JPL / Caltech [email protected] Fred Culick Co-Leader / Caltech [email protected] Co -Leader / The Planetary Louis Friedman [email protected] Society Carlton Allen NASA JSC [email protected] David Baughman Naval Postgraduate School [email protected] NASA ARC/Carnegie Mellon Julie Bellerose [email protected] University Bruce Betts The Planetary Society [email protected] Mike Brown Caltech [email protected] Michael Busch UCLA [email protected] John Casani NASA JPL [email protected] Marcello Coradini ESA [email protected] John Dankanich NASA GRC [email protected] Paul Dimotakis Caltech [email protected] Harvard -Smithsonian Center for Martin Elvis [email protected] Astrophysics Ian Garrick-Bethel UCSC [email protected] Bob Gershman NASA JPL [email protected] Florida Institute for Human and Tom Jones [email protected] Machine Cognition Damon Landau NASA JPL [email protected] Chris Lewicki Arkyd Astronautics [email protected] John Lewis University of Arizona [email protected] Pedro Llanos USC [email protected] Mark Lupisella NASA GSFC [email protected] Dan Mazanek NASA LaRC [email protected] Prakhar Mehrotra Caltech [email protected]
    [Show full text]
  • Integrated Lunar Transportation System
    Integrated Lunar Transportation System Jerome Pearson1, John C. Oldson2, Eugene M. Levin3, and Harry Wykes4 Star Technology and Research, Inc., Mount Pleasant, SC, 29466 An integrated transportation system is proposed from the lunar poles to Earth orbit, using solar-powered electric vehicles on lunar tramways, highways, and a lunar space elevator. The system could transport large amounts of lunar resources to Earth orbit for construction, radiation shielding, and propellant depots, and could supply lunar equatorial, polar, and mining bases with manufactured items. We present a system for lunar surface transport using “cars, trucks, and trains,” and the infrastructure of “roads, highways, and tramways,” connecting with the lunar space elevator for transport to Earth orbit. The Apollo Lunar Rovers demonstrated a battery- powered range of nearly 50 kilometers, but they also uncovered the problems of lunar dust. For building dustless highways, it appears particularly attractive to create paved roads by using microwaves to sinter lunar dust into a hard surface. For tramways, tall towers can support high- strength ribbons that carry cable cars over the lunar craters; the ribbon might even be fabricated from lunar materials. We address the power and energy storage requirements for lunar transportation vehicles, the design and effectiveness of lunar tramways, and the materials requirements for the support ribbons of lunar tramways and lunar space elevators. 1. Introduction NASA is implementing a plan for a return to the Moon, which will build on and expand the capabilities demonstrated during the Apollo landings. The plan includes long-duration lunar stays, lunar outposts and bases, and exploitation of lunar resources on the Moon and in Earth orbit1.
    [Show full text]
  • Graphene Infused Space Industry a Discussion About Graphene
    Graphene infused space industry a discussion about graphene NASA Commercial Space Lecture Series Our agenda today Debbie Nelson The Nixene Journal Rob Whieldon Introduction to graphene and Powder applications Adrian Nixon State of the art sheet graphene manufacturing technology Interactive session: Ask anything you like Rob Whieldon Adrian Nixon Debbie Nelson American Graphene Summit Washington D.C. 2019 https://www.nixenepublishing.com/nixene-publishing-team/ Who we are Rob Whieldon Rob Whieldon is Operations Director for Nixene Publishing having spent over 20 years supporting businesses in the SME community in the UK. He was the Executive Director of the prestigious Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Adrian Nixon Debbie Nelson programme in Yorkshire and Humber and Adrian began his career as a scientist and is a Chartered Chemist and Debbie has over two decades is the former Director of Small Business Member of the Royal Society of experience in both face-forward and Programmes at Leeds University Business Chemistry. He has over 20 years online networking. She is active with School. He is a Gold Award winner from experience in industry working at ongoing NASA Social activities, and the UK Government Small Business Allied Colloids plc, an international enjoyed covering the Orion capsule Charter initiative and a holder of the EFMD chemicals company (now part of water test and Apollo 50th (European Framework for Management BASF). Adrian is the CEO and Editor anniversary events at Marshall Development) Excellence in Practice in Chief of Nixene Publishing, which Space Center. Debbie serves as Award. More recently he was a judge for he established in the UK in 2017.
    [Show full text]
  • Pathways to Colonization David V
    Pathways To Colonization David V. Smitherman, Jr. NASA, Marshall Space F’light Center, Mail CoLFDO2, Huntsville, AL 35812,256-961-7585, Abstract. The steps required for space colonization are many to grow fiom our current 3-person International Space Station,now under construction, to an inhstmcture that can support hundreds and eventually thousands of people in space. This paper will summarize the author’s fmdings fiom numerous studies and workshops on related subjects and identify some of the critical next steps toward space colonization. Findings will be drawn from the author’s previous work on space colony design, space infirastructure workshops, and various studies that addressed space policy. In cmclusion, this paper will note that siBnifcant progress has been made on space facility construction through the International Space Station program, and that si&icant efforts are needed in the development of new reusable Earth to Orbit transportation systems. The next key steps will include reusable in space transportation systems supported by in space propellant depots, the continued development of inflatable habitat and space elevator technologies, and the resolution of policy issues that will establish a future vision for space development A PATH TO SPACE COLONIZATION In 1993, as part of the author’s duties as a space program planner at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, a lengthy timeline was begun to determine the approximate length of time it might take for humans to eventually leave this solar system and travel to the stars. The thought was that we would soon discover a blue planet around another star and would eventually seek to send a colony to explore and expand our presence in this galaxy.
    [Show full text]
  • Space Propulsion.Pdf
    Deep Space Propulsion K.F. Long Deep Space Propulsion A Roadmap to Interstellar Flight K.F. Long Bsc, Msc, CPhys Vice President (Europe), Icarus Interstellar Fellow British Interplanetary Society Berkshire, UK ISBN 978-1-4614-0606-8 e-ISBN 978-1-4614-0607-5 DOI 10.1007/978-1-4614-0607-5 Springer New York Dordrecht Heidelberg London Library of Congress Control Number: 2011937235 # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012 All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher (Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA), except for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection with any form of information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed is forbidden. The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks, and similar terms, even if they are not identified as such, is not to be taken as an expression of opinion as to whether or not they are subject to proprietary rights. Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com) This book is dedicated to three people who have had the biggest influence on my life. My wife Gemma Long for your continued love and companionship; my mentor Jonathan Brooks for your guidance and wisdom; my hero Sir Arthur C. Clarke for your inspirational vision – for Rama, 2001, and the books you leave behind. Foreword We live in a time of troubles.
    [Show full text]
  • Space Elevator a New Way to Gain Orbit Adil Oubou 5/3/2014
    Space Elevator A New Way To Gain Orbit Adil Oubou 5/3/2014 Abstract After 56 years of great space exploration, the space flight program found itself asking an intriguing question: What’s next? Should humans constrain the space program to low Earth orbit, revisit the moon, or simply go beyond anything they have done before? No matter what the next step is, there is a great need for a reliable, safe, affordable and easy method of gaining orbit. The space elevator concept discussed in this report, based on the design provided in Peter Swan’s book “Space Elevators: An Assessment of the Technological Feasibility and the Way Forward“, shines the light on an economically and technologically feasible solution within the next two decades that will lift payloads including humans from the earth’s surface into space at a greater capacity than current rockets while significantly lowering cost to $500/kg. The system design includes a tether line that extends from the Earth’s surface to an altitude of 100,000 km that utilizes electrical motor driven climbers to gain orbit. The success feasibility of this space flight system is highly dependent on the development of Carbon Nanotube (CNT) material, which will provide high strength and low mass properties for the space elevator system components to withstand environmental and operational stresses. Table of Contents 1.0 The New Way to Orbit ....................................................................................................... 4 2.0 Why Space Elevator? ........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Analysis of Space Elevator Technology
    Analysis of Space Elevator Technology SPRING 2014, ASEN 5053 FINAL PROJECT TYSON SPARKS Contents Figures .......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Tables ............................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Analysis of Space Elevator Technology ........................................................................................................................ 2 Nomenclature ................................................................................................................................................................ 2 I. Introduction and Theory ....................................................................................................................................... 2 A. Modern Elevator Concept ................................................................................................................................. 2 B. Climber Concept ............................................................................................................................................... 3 C. Base Station Concept ........................................................................................................................................ 4 D. Space Elevator Astrodynamics ........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Technology Development and Demonstration Concepts for the Space Elevator
    55th International Astronautical Congress 2004 - Vancouver, Canada IAC-04-IAA.3.8.3.02 TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION CONCEPTS FOR THE SPACE ELEVATOR David V. Smitherman, Jr., Architect Technical Manager, Advanced Projects Office NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama, USA E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT In 1999, the author managed for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a space elevator workshop at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center to explore the potential feasibility of space elevators in the 21st century, and to identify the critical technologies and demonstration missions needed to make the development of space elevators feasible. Since that time, a NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) funded study proposed a simpler concept for the first space elevator system using more near-term technologies. This paper will review some of the latest ideas for space elevator development, the critical technologies required, and some of the ideas proposed for demonstrating the feasibility for full-scale development of an Earth to Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) Space Elevator. In conclusion, this paper finds that the most critical technologies for an earth-based space elevator include Carbon Nano-Tube (CNT) composite materials development and object avoidance technologies; that the lack of successful development of these technologies need not preclude continued development of space elevator systems in general; and that the critical technologies required for the earth-based space elevator are not required for similar systems at the Moon, and other locations. BACKGROUND In the 1990’s, advances were made by NASA Study: several researchers indicating that carbon To investigate this possibility the author, in nano-tubes might be the high strength 1999, managed for NASA a space elevator material needed for fabrication of space workshop at the NASA Marshall Space elevators from geostationary orbit down to Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, to the surface of the Earth.
    [Show full text]
  • Achievable Space Elevators for Space Transportation and Starship
    1991012826-321 :1 TRANSPORTATIONACHIEVABLE SPACEAND ELEVATORSTARSHIPSACCELERATFOR SP_CEION ._ Fl_t_ Dynamic_L',_rator_ N91-22162 Wright-PattersonAFB,Ohio ABSTRACT Spaceelevatorconceptslorlow-costspacelau,'x,,hea_rereviewed.Previousconceptssuffered;rein requirementsforultra-high-strengthmaterials,dynamicallyunstablesystems,orfromdangerofoollisionwith spacedeb._s.Theuseofmagneticgrain_reams,firstF_posedby BenoitLeben,solvestheseproblems. Magneticgrain_reamscansupportshortspace6!evatorsforliftingpayloadscheaplyintoEarthorbit, overcomingthematerialstrengthp_Oiemin.buildingspaceelevators.Alternatively,thestreamcouldsupport an internationaspaceportl circling__heEarthdailyt_nsofmilesabovetheequator,accessibleto adv_ncad aircraft.Marscouldbe equippedwitha similargrainstream,usingmaterialfromitsmoonsPhobosandDefines. Grain-streamarcsaboutthesuncould_ usedforfastlaunchestotheouterplanetsandforaccelerating starshipsto nearikjhtspeedforinterstella:recor_naisar',cGraie. nstreamsareessentiallyimperviousto collisions,andcouldreducethecost_f spacetranspo_ationbyan o_er c,,fmagnih_e. iNTRODUCTION Themajorob_,tacletorapi( spacedevei,apmentisthehighco_ oflaunct_!,'D_gayloadsintoEarthorbit. Currentlaunchcostsare morethan_3000per kilogramand, rocketvehicles_ch asNASP,S,_nger_,'_the AdvancedLaunchSystemwiltstillcost$500perkilogram.Theprospectsforspaceente_dseandsettlement. arenotgoodunlessthesehighlaunchc_stsarereducedsignificantly. Overthepastthirtyyears,severalconceptshavebeendevelopedforlaunchir_la{_opayloadsintoEarth orbitcheaplyusing"_rJeceelevators."The._estructurescanbesupportedbyeithe.rs_ati,for::
    [Show full text]
  • Iac-04-Iaa.3.8.3.07 the Lunar Space Elevator
    IAC-04-IAA.3.8.3.07 THE LUNAR SPACE ELEVATOR Jerome Pearson, Eugene Levin, John Oldson, and Harry Wykes STAR Inc., Mount Pleasant, SC USA; [email protected] ABSTRACT This paper examines lunar space elevators, a concept originated by the lead author, for lunar development. Lunar space elevators are flexible structures connecting the lunar surface with counterweights located beyond the L1 or L2 Lagrangian points in the Earth- moon system. A lunar space elevator on the moon’s near side, balanced about the L1 Lagrangian point, could support robotic climbing vehicles to release lunar material into high Earth orbit. A lunar space elevator on the moon’s far side, balanced about L2, could provide nearly continuous communication with an astronomical observatory on the moon’s far side, away from the optical and radio interference from the Earth. Because of the lower mass of the moon, such lunar space elevators could be constructed of existing materials instead of carbon nanotubes, and would be much less massive than the Earth space elevator. We review likely spots for development of lunar surface operations (south pole locations for water and continuous sunlight, and equatorial locations for lower delta-V), and examine the likely payload requirements for Earth-to-moon and moon-to-Earth transportation. We then examine its capability to launch large amounts of lunar material into high Earth orbit, and do a top-level system analysis to evaluate the potential payoffs of lunar space elevators. SPACE ELEVATOR HISTORY The idea of a "stairway to heaven" is as as the rotation period of the body.
    [Show full text]