Projects.
> Projects.
Aero-tech & robot-tech & AI-tech, space elevator.
1) Elevators from Earth to geo-stationary orbit.
Soon.
2) Elevator up and down moves.
3) Elevators configuration.
Transport of materials.
Transport of living beings.
4) Structure, constraints.
Made of graphene or nano-tubes of carbon.
5) Installation.
6) Current situation of researches.
1) The space elevator, part one.
Space Elevators vs Railgun Launchers, by Tom CHATTERTON © ®.
I figure you haven't given this much thought ... yet. But, as far as commercial high capacity delivery systems go, space elevators will be slow and cumbersome. They'll mostly be a technical marvel. Here's part of the reasons :
#1, the popular Lunar spot is L1. It is much further away than the 36,000 km location for EARTH based geosynchronous orbit. More cable, adds interesting technology with plenty of unknowns in the coldness of deep space. It is an awesome 56,000 km towards EARTH. L2 on the dark side of the MOON is 67,000 km because the EARTH is not helping as much to pull on it. So, #1 is you need MORE space elevator cable, than the EARTH based one.
#2, at present technology, even if it's got a conventional rocket to power it ... the elevator "car" can't arrive for at least 2 hours. Most of the car is all rocket or an electromagnetic motor ... With little space for passengers or cargo ... The weight / mass has to be at least 5,000 lbs for the elevator car, in order to carry at least 10 people per trip, and a reasonable amount of cargo plus engines to move it quickly enough. That is the about mass of a minibus.
My guess is it will have a mass of that rivals a space shuttle, in order to have enough power to carry several tons into orbit, and arrive at the station within an hour or so. There is also a problem with braking before arrival. All of this will put stress on the cable, even if it's electro braking ... As slowing, the mass pushes back through whatever system is, mounted on the way to the station. So, yes we can build a space elevator on the MOON ... but it will be slow and cumbersome, even on a good day. Bets are, in order to not stress the cable too much, it could take several days to arrive. That means there must not only be seating, but actually living quarters, and meals must be served. All of that ADDS weight if transporting humans.
Lunar space elevator, (WIKIPEDIA © ®) © ®.
2) The space elevator, part two.
Space Elevators vs Railguns launchers, by Tom CHATTERTON © ®.
It's already established that space elevators are OK, once the technology is developed... but is slow and cumbersome by "competing" systems. What I'm thinking, in order to save on launching costs, is a giant railgun to deliver people and cargo. At the U.S. NAVY's present technology, they can deliver a payload that weighs 40 lbs at 5,000 mph. Soon, they will deploy a much larger railgun on their Warships that shoots a projectile 13,000 MPH, weight unknown. Sorry for switching speed and distance standards, but I have to go with what I know until I can convert it. Of course, what I'm discussing requires beefing up present technology. But, the path to a larger railgun, that runs along the surface for miles instead of mere feet, whose launch speed can be dialed in to protect human passengers ... could easily boost a spacial self contained spacecraft to the MOON's escape velocity...which is about 5324 mph...or 2.38 km per second. This is already technologically feasible for a modest cargo mass. If the idea is to deliver a 40 lb package into low Lunar orbit so a space tig can collect it... All we currently need is to deploy a U.S. NAVY style railgun on the lunar surface next to a manufacturing or mining operation. It is basic SHELF ready for the MOON or MARS planet... where escape velocity is about 7,000 MPH. But, launching sub orbitals are sufficient, if a space tug is receiving. Now ... about efficiency : A railgun can RELOAD in a matter of minutes or seconds, depending on equipment cooling and available generated power. So ... while a Space Elevator takes around TWO days to deliver your product to orbit ... the Railgun on the surface has ALREADY delivered your competition's product 100's of times, effectively crippling your business model. Also, railguns are easier to maintain, only requiring an astronaut or robot on a rover and a toolkit...vs a sophisticated space based robot or craft that must be launched as well. In addition: a ground based system in an airless environment is much less to maintain. In fact, it requires hardly any serious maintenance. Electrical equipment is pretty stationary with no moving parts to wear out. The projected craft doesn't need moving parts either, during launch...to 1,000 of miles per hour over a dozen or so miles. (A shorter distance by far, compared with 56,000 km to scan.). And, a rover can DRIVE out to a trouble spot in a matter of minutes. Both will require a human base. Use the rovers for repairs, not just shuffling around passengers.
1ST AEROSPACE & ASTRONAUTICS, a business unit from SUPRANEO company.