Satellite Elongation into a True "Sky-Hook"

Abstract

The theoretical possibility of self-supporting cables extending into space from earth and from extraterrestrial rotating or revolving bodies is examined. In principle, augmentation (and duplication) of the installation and the launching of masses into orbit or into space could be accomplished with energy derived entirely from the rotation of the central body. In practice, a portion of the total energy requirement would probably be supplied by simple mechanical devices.

Is the Sky-Hook Configuration Stable?

“…Such a string in its radial configuration could be used as track for a space elevator to provide easy access to a space orbit. This idea was investigated for its feasibility by Isaacs et al [4] for a string with constant crosssection and by Pearson [13] for a weight-optimized string with tapered cross secition. Both investigations came to the conclusion that at the time of the investigation no material was available to realize such a connection.…”

On the Stability of the Track of the Space Elevator

“…4 A careful, practically relevant investigation of the stability of the system's relative equilibrium would have to take into account various perturbations, such as the gravitational attraction of the Moon, atmospheric drag and payloads moving up and down the string. These effects and others have been addressed in Isaacs et al [2] and Pearson [3]. Interestingly enough the simpler question of stability of the radial relative equilibrium position of a long unperturbed string in the spherical symmetric Newtonian gravitational field has not been given much attention.…”

Analysis of Levitational Systems for a Superconducting Launch Ring

“…Unfortunately, currently available materials are not strong enough to support their own weight in a constant-cross-sectional-area cable from an earth geosynchronous location to the earth's surface. In principle, such a cable can be constructed by tapering the cross section from a small diameter at the ends to a very thick diameter at the geosynchronous point [2]. In practice, the strength of presently available engineering materials makes the mass of such a cable uncomfortably large.…”

“…The space elevator [1][2][3] is probably the best-known proposed alternative technology to rockets. The usual contemporary design concept for a space elevator is based around a mechanical cable extending radially inward and outward from a geosynchronous orbit, usually with a counterweight at the outer radius and with the innermost part of the cable attached to the ground at the equator.…”