List of research topics for KESTS to GEO

POTENTIAL RESEARCH PAPER TOPICS

Let me suggest a list of research paper topics, as idea stimulators for students (J E D Cline).

Potential research papers that are primarily scientific in nature:

Influence of earth's magnetic field on a 10 kg mass magnetic assembly in eccentric orbit around the Earth.

Potential research papers that are primarily technological, wide focus:

Modeling of a high velocity mass stream which is constrained to an Orbital Transfer Trajectory between equatorial radius and GEO Radius, yet travelling at, for example, twice Orbital Transfer Velocity at its low point of one Earth radius.
Priortizing the processing of toxic waste materials to be totally resolved into component elements by mass separator plants in GEO, as a function of urgency, toxicity, weight of materials with their containers, ground transportation costs and hazards. Compare with alternate means (if any) for coping with these accumulating toxic wastes of civilization's processes.
Providing a measure of conceptual contribution to the KESTS to GEO concept, from earlier concepts such as Keith Lofstrom's sub-orbital 90 mile high rocket launch assistance "Launch Loop" concept, and by Rod Hyde's vertical electrodynamic space elevator, also a sub-orbital transportation concept to above the atmosphere for a high rocket launch point.
Re-visiting the 1976 Stanford Torus design for 10,000 space colonists each, considering the technological advances in the 25 years since then.

Potential research papers that are primarily technological, narrow focus:

Maglev track designs for discontinuous armature segments operating in a hard vacuum at varying speeds including 20 km/s
Qantification of the many types of energy conversions along the KESTS to GEO application of a Sliding Armature Mass Stream Energy-Momentum Transfer Technology
Kinetic energy transfer by electrodynamic braking against a high velocity discontinuous magnetic armature mass stream.
Design considerations of KESTS to GEO regarding safety when transporting rocket propellants to GEO for spacecraft launch operations from there.
Variations in KESTS to GEO design to enable inclusion of certain types of payloads into the armature mass stream pathways for rapid transportation up to GEO.
Oscillation modes of armature segments sliding along maglev tracks, and corrective dampening mechanisms both passive and active.
Effects on the Van Allen Radiation Belts from the presence of large absorptive passive shielding mass located in GEO.

Potential research papers that are primarily socio-economic:

Effects on indigenous population of the Andes in Ecuador, due to construction and use of a high capacity ground transportation connecting to an east-west tunnel through the Andes.
Impact of a high capacity space elevator to GEO starting in 2007, upon conventional launch startup companies, and how to incorporate these companies into the overall KESTS to GEO-enabled system.
Effects on the oil producing countries economic systems by the presence of SSPS supplying 98% of the world's electrical power needs by 2025. Consider these contries being offered substantial financial stock in the KESTS corporations. Compare with the alternative religious-geopolitical pressure effects on the oil-starved countries such as the United States, starting around 2025.
Examining the infrastructure involved given a requirement for any new technology to humanely absorb all the personnel, resources, and stock holders that are displaced by the new technology's effects.
Given that the KESTS to GEO concept could enable an enormous transportation link between ground and high Earth orbit in the relatively near future, potentialy altering the course of civilization and opportunity for trillions of dollars in profits, how does the existing socio-politico-corporate complex react to that, including its response since its inception in 1988? A study in the economic process.
Although the ability to broadly access space resources for power, raw materials, waste material processing, and vast room to grow, is provided by this integrated KESTS to GEO concept, the enormous changes in the status quo it would enable for that survival process for civilization is likely to be pereceived as being extremely threatening to people insofar as they are fearful of change which is not fully in their own individual control. Explore how these two forces interplay during the unfolding of this project, starting in 1988 when the concept was initially publically proposed (on the GEnie computer network). Early references: this authors efforts, KESTS history, and list of pertinent GEnie files.

(Working pool of topics as originally started here. Jim Cline.)

Maglev track designs for operation in a hard vacuum at varying speeds such as 20 km/s
Influence of earth's magnetic field on a 10 kg mass magnet in eccentric orbit around the Earth.
Kinetic energy transfer by electrodynamic braking against a high velocity discontinuous magnetic armature mass stream.
Compare the potential seed KEST emplacement techniques, such as the Microelevator self-raising reaction tube technique.
Effects on indigenous population of the Andes in Ecuador, due to construction and use of a high capacity ground transportation connecting to an east-west tunnel through the Andes.
Impact of a high capacity space elevator to GEO starting in 2007, upon conventional launch startup companies, and how to incorporate these companies into the overall KESTS to GEO-enabled system.
Re-visiting the 1976 Stanford Torus design for 10,000 space colonists each, considering the technological advances in the 25 years since then.
Modeling of a high velocity mass stream which is constrained to an Orbital Transfer Trajectory between equatorial radius and GEO Radius, yet travelling at, for example, twice Orbital Transfer Velocity at its perigee-like point.
The effects on civilization of a high efficiency self-powered (from an SSPS it emplaces) space elevator transportation system, potentially capable of expansion to 1 million passengers per day between ground and GEO.
Effects on the oil producing countries economic systems by the presence of SSPS supplying 98% of the world's electrical power needs by 2025. Consider these contries being offered substantial financial stock in the KESTS corporations. Compare with the alternative religious-geopolitical pressure effects on the oil-starved countries such as the United States, starting around 2025.
Examining the infrastructure involved given a requirement for any new technology to humanely absorb all the personnel, resources, and stock holders that are displaced by the new technology's effects.
Priortizing the processing of toxic waste materials to be totally resolved into component elements by mass separator plants in GEO, as a function of urgency, toxicity, weight of materials with their containers, ground transportation costs and hazards. Compare with alternate means (if any) for coping with these accumulating toxic wastes of civilization's processes.
Design considerations of KESTS to GEO regarding safety when transporting rocket propellants to GEO for spacecraft launch operations from there.
Variations in KESTS to GEO design to enable inclusion of certain types of payloads into the armature mass stream pathways for rapid transportation up to GEO.
Providing a measure of conceptual contribution to the KESTS to GEO concept, from earlier concepts such as Keith Lofstrom's sub-orbital 90 mile high rocket launch assistance "Launch Loop" concept, and by Rod Hyde's vertical electrodynamic space elevator, also a sub-orbital transportation concept to above the atmosphere for a high rocket launch point.
Oscillation modes of armature segments sliding along maglev tracks, and corrective dampening mechanisms both passive and active.
Given that the KESTS to GEO concept could enable an enormous transportation link between ground and high Earth orbit in the relatively near future, potentialy altering the course of civilization and opportunity for trillions of dollars in profits, how does the existing socio-politico-corporate complex react to that, including its response since its inception in 1988? A study in the economic process.
Although the ability to broadly access space resources for power, raw materials, waste material processing, and vast room to grow, is provided by this integrated KESTS to GEO concept, the enormous changes in the status quo it would enable for that survival process for civilization is likely to be pereceived as being extremely threatening to people fearful of change. Explore how these two forces interplay during the unfolding of this project, starting in 1988 when the concept was initially publically proposed (on the GEnie computer network).

Author: James E. David Cline, initiated on 2002 06 19, updated on 2002 06 29.

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