Difference between revisions of "Space elevator"
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==Original concept== | ==Original concept== | ||
| − | The original concept for a "Space Tower" can be traced back to Konstantin Tsiolkovsky<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konstantin_Tsiolkovsky Wikipedia article about Konstantin Tsiolkovsky]</ref> | + | The original concept for a "Space Tower" can be traced back to Konstantin Tsiolkovsky,<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konstantin_Tsiolkovsky Wikipedia article about Konstantin Tsiolkovsky]</ref> a Russian rocket and space pioneer. He is quoted as saying in 1895:<ref>[http://www.enterprisemission.com/moon5.htm ''Moon with a View: Or, What Did Arthur Know... and When Did He Know it?'' - Richard C. Hoagland, 2005.]</ref> |
:"''...on the tower, as one climbed higher and higher up it, gravity would decrease gradually; and if it were constructed on the Earth's equator and, therefore, rapidly rotated together with the earth, the gravitation would disappear not only because of the distance from the centre of the planet, but also from the centrifugal force that is increasing proportionately to that distance. The gravitational force drops... but the centrifugal force operating in the reverse direction increases. On the earth the gravity is finally eliminated at the top of the tower, at an elevation of 5.5 radii of the earth (22,300 miles)''..." | :"''...on the tower, as one climbed higher and higher up it, gravity would decrease gradually; and if it were constructed on the Earth's equator and, therefore, rapidly rotated together with the earth, the gravitation would disappear not only because of the distance from the centre of the planet, but also from the centrifugal force that is increasing proportionately to that distance. The gravitational force drops... but the centrifugal force operating in the reverse direction increases. On the earth the gravity is finally eliminated at the top of the tower, at an elevation of 5.5 radii of the earth (22,300 miles)''..." | ||
| − | Naturally, the Space ''Tower'' whould be crushed under it's own weight, so the idea of a Space ''Elevator'' was born. In 1960, Yuri N. Artsutanov<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuri_N._Artsutanov Wikipedia article about Yuri N. Artsutanov]</ref> | + | Naturally, the Space ''Tower'' whould be crushed under it's own weight, so the idea of a Space ''Elevator'' was born. In 1960, Yuri N. Artsutanov,<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuri_N._Artsutanov Wikipedia article about Yuri N. Artsutanov]</ref> a Russian engineer, conceived the possibility of using a "skyhook" where a satillite is inserted into geosynchronous orbit and a cable lowered to the Earth's surface. As the cable is lowered, a counterweight is attached to the satillite and pushed into higher and higher orbit, thus keeping the cable's center-of-mass in a contant position. Once attached, the cable would be under tension, allowing payloads to be transported into the satillite's orbit. |
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==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 20:12, 5 November 2007
The transport from Mars' surface to Mars' orbit and vice versa can be achieved by a Space Elevator. The idea is to install a high-tensile rope from the surface to the synchronous orbit and a certain length beyond, connected to a counter weight.
Since the gravity of Mars is lower than the gravity of Earth the requirements to the tensile strength of the rope is less, making this construction easier.
Original concept
The original concept for a "Space Tower" can be traced back to Konstantin Tsiolkovsky,[1] a Russian rocket and space pioneer. He is quoted as saying in 1895:[2]
- "...on the tower, as one climbed higher and higher up it, gravity would decrease gradually; and if it were constructed on the Earth's equator and, therefore, rapidly rotated together with the earth, the gravitation would disappear not only because of the distance from the centre of the planet, but also from the centrifugal force that is increasing proportionately to that distance. The gravitational force drops... but the centrifugal force operating in the reverse direction increases. On the earth the gravity is finally eliminated at the top of the tower, at an elevation of 5.5 radii of the earth (22,300 miles)..."
Naturally, the Space Tower whould be crushed under it's own weight, so the idea of a Space Elevator was born. In 1960, Yuri N. Artsutanov,[3] a Russian engineer, conceived the possibility of using a "skyhook" where a satillite is inserted into geosynchronous orbit and a cable lowered to the Earth's surface. As the cable is lowered, a counterweight is attached to the satillite and pushed into higher and higher orbit, thus keeping the cable's center-of-mass in a contant position. Once attached, the cable would be under tension, allowing payloads to be transported into the satillite's orbit.
See also
References
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