From: Doug Jones (random@qnet.com)
Date: Fri Mar 03 2000 - 01:31:23 MST
Emlyn wrote:
>
> My last post were ded wrong.
>
> Try this:
>
> You release some mass from the overall structure (remove a counterwieght at
> the bottom). The skyhook goes up and west. Don't let it drift too far
> (reminds me off losing my baloon when I was a kid, but lots worse). You'd
> need a bit of clear equator, or there's gunna be some trouble...
>
> Then, add the weight back, plus your payload, which is hoisted up.
> Meanwhile, the structure drifts down and east.
>
> Once the stuff gets to orbit, you've got the original state, except the
> thing's a bit low; it should return to the original height and stop
> drifting.
>
> Does this work? Or am I dead wrong again (probably).
>
> I'd assume you'd have some wasteful rockets and stuff on the top end to
> adjust for any imprecision.
Even simpler, you attach the tether to a large mass on the surface of
the earth- too large to be lifted. Then you attach a counterweight at
the far end, putting a preload on the entire structure. Thus, when an
elevator climbs the tether, the total tension remains the same, except
that the section below the elevator has reduced load.
This is much like sending a cable car up the tether of a captive
balloon, but with far lower frequency dynamic effects (it takes hours
for load changes to travel the length of the tether at the speed of
sound in the tether material).
The anchor and counterweight would likely be added as a series of much
smaller masses over a period of weeks, to allow time to level out the
tensions.
-- Doug Jones Rocket Plumber, XCOR Aerospace http://www.xcor-aerospace.com
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