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A Stable Sub-Orbital Permanent Structure Based on Readily Attainable Technological Advancements

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A Stable Sub-Orbital Permanent Structure Based on Readily Attainable Technological Advancements A Stable Sub-Orbital Permanent Structure Based on Readily Attainable Technological Advancements Philip Swan Brian Baker Sean Conner Gunnar Clovis Chris Fornof Alexander Halaszyn Alba Misciagna C. Prado Nickel 2017 A Tethered Ring is a dynamic structure that can cost-effectively support space launch facilities, transportation infrastructure, and a sizable human settlement at high altitudes. An altitude of 32km and a population of 250,000 is shown to be technologically and economically feasible using 2017 science and technology. A minimally viable implementation of The Tethered Ring is described. It has a diameter like that of the Pacific Ocean. It stays aloft by generating and properly combining inertial forces with tensile forces to offset the pull of gravity. The inertial forces are produced by the circular motion of magnetically levitated rings within the pipelines, and the tensile forces are generated by appropriately tethering the pipeline bundle to the side of the planet that protrudes through the ring, using tethers made of strong, light-weight, industrial fiber. The entire structure can be fabricated on Earth and neither its construction nor its deployment depends on a pre-existing space infrastructure or space-based industry. The deployed structure is resilient to catastrophic failure because its precision-guided fast-moving components are: a) not exposed to seismic or climatic battering, and b) safely above and thus out of range of tacit civilizational threats, such attacks involving torpedoes or commandeered aircraft. The tethered ring is an optimal stepping-stone infrastructure for furnishing humanity with a safe, affordable, and sustainable means to escape Earth’s gravity, expand its civilization into space, and ultimately evolve into a multi-planetary species. Contents A Stable Sub-Orbital Permanent Structure Based on Readily Attainable Technological Advancements ...................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Business Models ............................................................................................................................................................ 6 Transportation Services ............................................................................................................................................. 6 Real Estate ................................................................................................................................................................. 8 1 Low Cost Space Launch .............................................................................................................................................. 9 Economic Analysis ................................................................................................................................................... 10 Technical Specifications ........................................................................................................................................... 12 Architecture ................................................................................................................................................................. 14 How Does It Stay Aloft? ........................................................................................................................................... 14 How is it Constructed? ............................................................................................................................................. 19 Are Gyroscopic Forces an Operational Concern? .................................................................................................... 22 How is a Moving Ring Magnetically Levitated? ....................................................................................................... 22 How is the Moving Ring Accelerated/Decelerated? ................................................................................................ 22 How are the Tethers Designed? .............................................................................................................................. 23 What Material(s) are the Tethers Constructed From? ............................................................................................ 23 How are the Anchors Designed? ............................................................................................................................. 23 Wind Shear Compensation ...................................................................................................................................... 23 Why Would People Choose to Live There?.............................................................................................................. 26 How are People and Cargo Brought up to The Ring? .............................................................................................. 27 How Does the Space Launch System Work? ........................................................................................................... 28 What Altitude is Needed for a Maglev Launch Accelerator? ................................................................................... 29 What Launch Rates Can It Achieve? ........................................................................................................................ 31 What are some comparable projects/endeavors? .................................................................................................. 31 Logistics ....................................................................................................................................................................... 31 How do you move it into position after it has been raised? ................................................................................... 31 How can the Traversed Countries be Convinced to Support the Project? .............................................................. 32 How is the Moving Ring Isolated from Perturbations? ............................................................................................ 32 How do you Demolish it at the End of its Operational Life? .................................................................................... 33 Achieving Sufficient Levels of Component and System Reliability .......................................................................... 33 How is it Maintained? .............................................................................................................................................. 33 Hazard and Risk Profile Assessment ............................................................................................................................ 34 Natural Hazards ....................................................................................................................................................... 34 Space Radiation ................................................................................................................................................... 34 Intense Magnetic Storms ..................................................................................................................................... 34 Meteors and Space Debris ................................................................................................................................... 34 Atomic Oxygen ..................................................................................................................................................... 34 Volcanic Eruptions and Ash-clouds ...................................................................................................................... 34 Sprites and Their Siblings ..................................................................................................................................... 35 Seismic Events ..................................................................................................................................................... 35 Forest Fires .......................................................................................................................................................... 35 Icebergs and Ice Sheets ....................................................................................................................................... 35 2 Cyclones ............................................................................................................................................................... 35 Anthropogenic Hazards ........................................................................................................................................... 36 Terrorism ............................................................................................................................................................. 36 Engineering Hazards ................................................................................................................................................ 36 Habitats.................................................................................................................................................................... 37 How Much Less Would a Visitor or Resident Weigh on the Ring? (Include in Habitats?) ....................................... 38 What is the inter-habitat transit system like? ........................................................................................................
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