Comments on: Electrodynamic Compound Tether http://selenianboondocks.com/2009/12/electrodynamic-compound-tether/ Random Musings from the Warped Minds of Jonathan Goff, Ken Murphy, John Hare, and Kirk Sorensen Sat, 05 May 2012 20:53:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: john hare http://selenianboondocks.com/2009/12/electrodynamic-compound-tether/comment-page-1/#comment-7145 john hare Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:16:56 +0000 http://selenianboondocks.com/?p=1341#comment-7145 I prefer a slight tilt to the standing wave. I think the various problems are solvable with considerable profit potential. I prefer a slight tilt to the standing wave. I think the various problems are solvable with considerable profit potential.

]]> By: PeterH http://selenianboondocks.com/2009/12/electrodynamic-compound-tether/comment-page-1/#comment-7144 PeterH Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:46:57 +0000 http://selenianboondocks.com/?p=1341#comment-7144 I like the ability to release into the local circular orbit without having to climb along the tether. The spinning tether having a vertical or tilted rotation axis avoids the problem of tethers colliding, but makes capture and release a 3D compound pendulum problem. In addition, the spinning tether would have to precess if not in the orbital plane. Probably solvable engineering issues, but complications. Thinking of a vertical spin, ever play with spinning a chain or rope around so the lower end is on one side of the spin axis while the upper end is on the other? Hold one end with the chain hanging, and make small circles building up momentum. Find the right speed and you get the standing wave I described above. I like the ability to release into the local circular orbit without having to climb along the tether.

The spinning tether having a vertical or tilted rotation axis avoids the problem of tethers colliding, but makes capture and release a 3D compound pendulum problem. In addition, the spinning tether would have to precess if not in the orbital plane. Probably solvable engineering issues, but complications.

Thinking of a vertical spin, ever play with spinning a chain or rope around so the lower end is on one side of the spin axis while the upper end is on the other? Hold one end with the chain hanging, and make small circles building up momentum. Find the right speed and you get the standing wave I described above.

]]> By: Neil H. http://selenianboondocks.com/2009/12/electrodynamic-compound-tether/comment-page-1/#comment-6782 Neil H. Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:04:50 +0000 http://selenianboondocks.com/?p=1341#comment-6782 Oops, my bad. I guess one could alternatively imagine some sort of continuously orbiting space elevator which doesn't actually touch the ground, although I guess a rotovator would probably be a better bet. Oops, my bad. I guess one could alternatively imagine some sort of continuously orbiting space elevator which doesn’t actually touch the ground, although I guess a rotovator would probably be a better bet.

]]> By: Kirk Sorensen http://selenianboondocks.com/2009/12/electrodynamic-compound-tether/comment-page-1/#comment-6774 Kirk Sorensen Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:38:25 +0000 http://selenianboondocks.com/?p=1341#comment-6774 No. The electrodynamic tether has to move relative to the Earth's magnetic field to function, and the space elevator concept does not move relative to the Earth's magnetic field. No. The electrodynamic tether has to move relative to the Earth’s magnetic field to function, and the space elevator concept does not move relative to the Earth’s magnetic field.

]]> By: Neil H. http://selenianboondocks.com/2009/12/electrodynamic-compound-tether/comment-page-1/#comment-6773 Neil H. Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:27:55 +0000 http://selenianboondocks.com/?p=1341#comment-6773 Random thought, and I'm not if you've already covered it: Might it be possible to use electrodynamic tethers with the basic space elevator concept, and use them to reduce the overall tensile strength required? For example, what if either the entire space elevator cable, or portions of it, were electrodynamic tethers powered by solar and/or nuclear... could the upwards "push" make other parts of the engineering easier? Random thought, and I’m not if you’ve already covered it: Might it be possible to use electrodynamic tethers with the basic space elevator concept, and use them to reduce the overall tensile strength required? For example, what if either the entire space elevator cable, or portions of it, were electrodynamic tethers powered by solar and/or nuclear… could the upwards “push” make other parts of the engineering easier?

]]> By: john hare http://selenianboondocks.com/2009/12/electrodynamic-compound-tether/comment-page-1/#comment-6714 john hare Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:54:14 +0000 http://selenianboondocks.com/?p=1341#comment-6714 I threw this one out before seeing Kirk's comment on the previous post. Unless a bulletproof way of preventing tether contact can be devised, these compound tether concepts are busted. I threw this one out before seeing Kirk’s comment on the previous post. Unless a bulletproof way of preventing tether contact can be devised, these compound tether concepts are busted.

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