Aucbvax.5539
fa.space
utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!space
Fri Dec 25 03:17:00 1981
SPACE Digest V2 #69
>From OTA@S1-A Fri Dec 25 03:06:23 1981
SPACE Digest Volume 2 : Issue 69
Today's Topics:
long extension cords & beanstalks
Engine supported sykhook.
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Date: 24 Dec 1981 12:34:47-PST
From: decvax!duke!phs!dennis at Berkeley
To: duke!decvax!ucbvax!space@Berkeley
Subject: long extension cords & beanstalks
That seems to be a way to manage the SPS power-transmission
problems: microwave beams to the top end of a beanstalk,
then hardware transmission to the ground.
Does anybody out there have lossage figures for vacuum
power transmission, as opposed to 22,100 mi of vacuum + 200 mi
of atmosphere? Granted, there's another conversion step
involved (reception at the head of the beanstalk),
but maybe the lack of atmosphere lossage will make up for that.
Also, it gets rather neatly around those turkeys who
think the microwaves will cook the atmosphere and the animals,
and give an economic boost to the whole beanstalk system
(cheap power -- that applies to the neighborhood around
the base of the beanstalk, too!).
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Date: 24 December 1981 20:35-EST
From: Gene Salamin <ES MIT-MC AT>
Subject: Engine supported sykhook.
To: SPACE at MIT-MC
REM's idea of an electric cable from SPS to earth inspired me with
the idea of electric powered ion engines all along a skyhook to support
its weight; also along REM's cable to support its weight too. This
avoids the need for an exponential taper.
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End of SPACE Digest
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