Access to Orbit--and Beyond
Peak Oil Debunked Blog posted an excellent discussion of the space elevator yesterday. The space elevator concept has been discussed for many decades. Arthur C. Clarke has been one of the foremost promoters of the idea. Despite many potential problems with the space elevator, the economics of boosting a payload to low earth orbit (LEO), and geostationary orbit beyond (GEO), suggest that we humans are not using our imaginations productively enough. As both Buckminster Fuller and Arther Clarke suggested, a geostationary ring of connected satellites, with connecting "spokes" of space elevators anchored to earth's equator, would provide an excellent launching pad from which to reach the moon and other planets in the solar system.
LEO on the Cheap is an interesting free online book that discusses the concept of approaching space economically, without the massive redundancy of NASA. Other approaches include a massive "gun launcher", as well as an electromagnetic rail launcher, and an asynchronous skyhook. (see dynamic systems) This is an interesting discussion of current launch concepts, and this is another plan. Here is another suggestion of getting from here to there.
What will we do when we get to orbit? Here are a few ideas. There are many more possibilities, but they all depend on getting to orbit first. Here are the basics of space flight, from the JPL. Spacefuture.com has many interesting articles, and a good links page. Also see the sidebar to the right, under Outer Space. And for those concerned about climate change, here is the ultimate guide to the control of earth's climate.Unless humans wish to share the fate of the dinosaurs, they had better learn to use their large brains for something other than shallow entertainments, and dimwitted news shows.
Labels: Access to space, space travel
posted by al fin at 9:14 am
2 Comments:
As both Buckminster Fuller and Arther Clarke suggested, a geostationary ring of connected satellites, with connecting "spokes" of space elevators anchored to earth's equator, would provide an excellent launching pad from which to reach the moon and other planets in the solar system.
Unless you are speaking in metaphor it doesn't take a ring of connected satellites - just a simple space elevator. One ribbon. Or a series of them once the traffic rate kicks in.
I'll take any system that reduces the transaction cost of getting from here to there. Space elevators look like they'll do it for us, but if something else comes alone I won't be choosy.
Unless humans wish to share the fate of the dinosaurs, they had better learn to use their large brains for something other than shallow entertainments, and dimwitted news shows.
On the other hand life can't be all Serious Intent and long faces. You gotta have fun or there isnt' any point.
Yes, I agree with your main points. The "ring" concept was merely to keep all the growing number of satellites at GEO organised, so they would not crash into each other. The "spokes" only represent multiple space elevators that reach the GEO "ring" and proceed outward. The more elevators, the more payloads.
I like to have fun, but I find most news reporting and popular entertainments to be depressingly simpleminded. I enjoy active fun.
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