From: Michael S. Lorrey (retroman@turbont.net)
Date: Fri Mar 17 2000 - 22:21:47 MST
James Swayze wrote:
>
> "Michael S. Lorrey" wrote:
> >
> > EvMick@aol.com wrote:
> >
> > > A short while ago there was a discussion concerning orbital towers....earth
> > > to geosych. The asertion was made that using a novel approach and hi tech
> > > materials such a structure was possible with today's tech.
> > >
> > > If a twenty thousand mile hi structure is possible then how much more
> > > possible is a two or three hundred mile high structure?
> > >
> > > More to the point....how useful would such a structure be?
> > >
> > > Other than being the world's highest antenna I have an idea.
> > >
> > > Power Generation. Being that high there must be some voltage differential
> > > between ground level and the top...out of the atmosphere.
> >
> > A very good idea, the power differential between in and out of the atmosphere is
> > two fold: solar ions and temperature differential.
> >
> > >
> > > Plus...it would be a departure station for a pinwheel.
> >
> > Like a Trebuchet. Building a trebuchet (balanced of course) would give a good
> > boost at the end, though I doubt that you could add more than a few percent of
> > orbital velocity. There would be occilation problems from the pinwheel as well,
> > induced from when mass is flung.
>
> Wouldn't there be a huge amount of air drag on such a pinwheel? Also I remember
> a program on tall buildings where they said the limit is 16 miles. They said the
> weight would turn the base to liguid from the heat of so much pressure. Granted
> they were probably talking conventional materials, not sure don't remember, but
> wouldn't there be an upper limit just the same on even light materials?
>
If its at the top of a couple hundred mile tall tower, then there is no
air up there, course you wouldn't want the swing arm to be more than
50-75 miles on a 200 mile tower.
Mike Lorrey
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