GeSp578

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Number: 578 Name: MICROELEVATOR VERS. 1

Address: J.E.D.CLINE1 Date: 881011

Approximate # of bytes: 8820

Number of Accesses: 18 Library: 3

Description:

Brainstorming on creation of a micro-sized space elevator from Earth-surface to geosynchronous orbit. Intended to demonstrate potential for a full-scale version and to provide limited actual delivery service. Concept stimulated by "Launch Loop" and "Starbridge" concepts; intended to bring attention to them. All readers are invited to participate in evolving this conceptual synthesis.

Keywords: Starbridge,Launch-Loop,transportation,synthesis,microversion,Earthtower,Microele

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MICROELEVATOR:Version 1

by J E D Cline Oct 8, 1988

Proposing the creation of a micro-sized dynamically-supported space elevator extending from Earth-surface out to GEO, to capture public attention to the potentials of concepts such as Hyde's "Starbridge" and Lofstrom"s "Launch Loop", and to provide limited delivery service to space. Inviting all to join in a group creative process with the intent of accellerating completion of the detailed conceptual synthesis in all aspects, and actualizing it within, say, 10 years.

New ideas grow from existing ideas which grew from the old ideas. Be part of this growing-idea process.... All readers are invited to participate in the evolution of the synthesis of this concept. [This can be a project that has a life, a beingness, of its own, like a living entity.] It is humanitarian in nature, intended to accellerate the constructive expansion of civilization into space, taking the load off of Mother Earth.

Maintain a playfully adventurous cheerful altruistic attitude, while participating in the growth of new concepts. Structures which form the basis for transporting payload from the Earth's surface into space have been proposed for many years, yet we aren't building them yet. Their potential for accellerating the journey of mankind into space settlements is incredible and potentially near-future, technologically speaking. Herein is proposed a way to demonstrate feasability through building a backyard version first. Although not quite the concepts of Starbridge and Launch Loop, it is similar enough to gain attention to those brilliant concepts, and perhaps form a limited version of a useful transportation system itself.

Brainstorming to conceptualize a micro-sized system, something that raises itself from the ground in some place off the air traffic lanes, and extends upward resembling a kite string all the way to geosynchronous orbit, then retracts itself back to earth surface again. Would that get public attention and industry support? Picturing the "kite string" as a pair of tubes (one for upward flow, the other for downward flow) size of ...0.02 inch diameter each would require a storage volume equal to a cube only 50 feet on a side...charged electrostatically (or alternatively centered electromagnetically) to frictionlessly center a very high velocity fillament, or stream of charged matter, within the pair of tubes. Perhaps the tubing is made as an electret, charge directed inward, and the filament an insulator...glass?...which is a coating around a very fine ferromagnetic material. Electrostatic bearings for this microstructure concept is thought less complicated than an electromagnetic bearing structure. The ferromagnetic material in the center of the filament is used to be the armature of the accellerating linear induction motor, and to magnetically couple enough drag on the filament to support the tubing enclosing it, which has magnetic material laced through it for that purpose. The upper end of the tubes has a rotational reflector, diverting the upward stream flowing within one tube, around and down the other tube. Push is exerted by that reflection process. The push is on a remote-controlled tiny craft, which thusly accellerates upward trailing the stringlike tube-pair as it goes. At the origination site, the tube pair is stored in a large ring from which it is being de-spooled. This ring also is the toroidal stator for the induction motor for accellerating the wire/stream within the tube. Thus the wire/stream is continuously flowing in a giant loop, coiled long enough to go round-trip to GEO, 22400 miles up and back.

The craft continues upward, pushed by the process of reversing the direction of the mass of the high-velocity filament in the tube, remotely guided to accomodate encountered winds, like a kitestring headed upward. After reaching the vacuum of space, the craft uses energy from the wire/stream within the tube pushing it upward, to accellerate reaction mass in appropriate directions to guide it as it continues its ascent toward GEO. Once at GEO, it proves its achievement either as a radio transmitter turned on inside it, or by having the craft covered by optical/radio retroreflectors, and ground stations are invited to triangulate upon it, proving it's existence there. The velocity of the wire/stream is then decellerated to reduce the upward urge, and the tube pair is pulled back down to Earth surface, re-spooled into the large ring from whence it was first set on its journey to GEO. (Alternatively, one could use this system to deliver the filament material to GEO at a respectable rate...material for use in building structures in space...say, a 2 mil diameter glass filament with ferromagnetic inclusions delivered at a rate of say 8 miles worth a second, accumulates respectably). Bids are then taken for building large commercial versions for use in putting comsats in GEO, and for building a permanently-erected version supporting a maglev Earth-to-space elevator, powered thereafter from a small Solar Power Satellite at its GEO terminal, using relevent concepts from Lofstrom's Launch Loop concepts, and Hyde's Starbridge concept.

This is one of two primary versions, the quasi-linear, or UP-DOWN, version, based on the "Starbridge" concept proposed by Hyde. The other primary version, based on the version of Lofstrom's "Launch Loop" as envisioned in Earl Smith's "Texas and Universe Railroad", is the quasi-elliptical, or AROUND, version, is very similar, except that it has a nearly horizontal contact point with earth-surface, and encircles the Earth, reaching geosynchronous orbit on the far side of Earth before returning to the origination point on the surface, continuing the loop. This second version has a minimum of centering force required inside the microtube..

Thusly the public's attention would be captured through a real demonstration, and press releases are then sent describing the visions of the futures possible when full scale versions are in operation, transporting billions of people toward space colonies built in space, initiating true space settlement of a spacefaring people.

Microelevator conceptual snapshots:

payload is a stretchable filament or discontinuous filament sections

thickening at top due to slowing

reaction engine atop at GEO to hold in place; or open tube end to release the stream of mass to stop "push" while there; or stop at equilibrium point short of GEO (very thick tube at that point?)

to cancel lateral thrust at top-end direction-reverser, have two filaments, which go opposite directions to rotate downward, then rejoin for trip back to Earth

push=F=ma

a=say 8 mi/sec, m=0.83 lbm/in3, vol = 2E-3in2 * pi*8 mi

tube of carbon-fiber-epoxy matrix--keep out air where in atmosphere

constant "current" all along length, constant mass/sec throughput...means thin where fast, thick where slower.

I invite those with appropriate skills to put numbers to it. Questions and answers, anyone? Whenever bugs are found, please communicate them to me, so that I can re-synthesize the concept, for re-uploading to GEnie Spaceport library for further serious playful thinking/imagineering by interested persons, involving this way to create a highway to space.

Replies can be uploaded to GEnie Spaceport library; GEMail to me using address of "J.E.D.Cline1"; sent to me (JED Cline) at 5632 Van Nuys Blvd. #110, Van Nuys, CA 91491, or phoned to (818) 909-0143. Thanks and have fun with visions for a new future!

Start of reference list of idea stimulators:

Lofstrom, Keith H., "The Launch Loop", ANALOG 1983

Smith, Earl, "The Texas and Universe Railroad", L-5 NEWS Nov. 85 pp9-11

Drexler, K. Eric, "Engines of Creation", Anchor Press

Cline, JED, "Space Inspiration", GEnie Spaceport library file #475

Cline, JED, "Power + Transportation", GEnie Spaceport library file #553

An Excalator Hi page titled GeSp578 by J E D Cline started on Wednesday, April 2, 2008 4:55:04 PM US/Pacific

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