Non-Rocket Spacelaunch – Advantages and Difficulties of a Launch Loop
This is the second part to the article on the launch loop from the non-rocket spacelaunch series. A complete list of all the articles in this series can be seen at the end of this post. A schematic of a launch loop as imagined by Lofstrom. Advantages of launch loops Unlike conventional rockets, launch loops can have many launches per hour, independent of weather, and are not inherently polluting. Rockets create pollution such as nitrates in their exhausts due to high exhaust temperature, and can also create greenhouse gases depending on propellant choices. Launch loops require power in the form of electricity and as such it can be clean. For…
Non-Rocket Spacelaunch – Tether propulsion safety issues
The use of tethers in space poses many challenges and safety issues. This third part to the tether propulsion article will focus on those issues. A lot of the challenges and safety issues of a space tether system are similar to those of a space elevator described in a previous article, but some are unique to the space tether concept.
Non-Rocket Spacelaunch – Tether propulsion
Having finished writing about the space elevator, I am moving on to another spacelaunch method in this new article in the non-rocket spacelaunch series. Tether propulsion consists in using long, very strong cables (known as tethers) to change the velocity of spacecraft and payloads. The tethers may be used to initiate launch, complete launch, or alter the orbit of a spacecraft. This form of propulsion would be significantly less expensive than spaceflight using modern rocket engines. Artist’s conception of satellite with a tether. Image by NASA. How does it work? Tethers are kept straight by either rotating end for end, or by the difference in the strength of gravity over…
Non-Rocket Spacelaunch – Space Elevators in Fiction
This is the fourth and final part of the space elevator article of the non-rocket spacelaunch methods article series. This post will focus on references to the space elevator concept in fiction. The first mention of anything remotely similar to a space elevator was the beanstalk in the children’s fairy tale called Jack and the Beanstalk, published in 1807. In this story a plant grows up into the sky enabling Jack to climb it and see what’s up there. This is why the word “beanstalk” has been coined as another name for a space elevator. Now on to more serious literature: My all time favorite book series including a reference…
Non-Rocket Spacelaunch – Extraterrestrial Space Elevator Concepts
Earth is not the only planet that could have a space elevator. Variants of the basic space elevator design could also be built on other celestial bodies in the solar system. Most of those variants could fit into three categories…
Non-Rocket Spacelaunch – Space Elevator Safety Issues
The space elevator is a gigantic concept and as such it has many safety issues that would have to be resolved before construction begins. A space elevator would present a navigational hazard, both to aircraft and spacecraft.
Non-Rocket Spacelaunch – Space Elevator
Today I’m starting a new series of articles about non-rocket spacelaunch methods. Non-rocket spacelaunch is the idea of reaching outer space without the use of conventional chemical rockets, which is currently the only method in use. Why non-rocket spacelaunch? Because the current chemical rockets are really expensive. In order to further explore outer space and establish a permanent human presence in space we need more cost efficient spacelaunch methods. In fact, present-day launch costs are in the range of $10,000 to $25,000 per kilogram from Earth to low Earth orbit. This is much too expensive for any serious space colonization efforts. Therefore we need to move beyond conventional chemical rockets…
