The Space Elevator The Budker Group太空电梯的计组.pptVIP

The Space Elevator Thomas Rand-Nash University of California, Berkeley Physics 138 Summary The History Why Do It? How Could it be Done? The Ribbon Carbon Nanotubes, A Summary Anchors Climbers Power Some Problems and Proposed Solutions The Future The History 1960: Artsutanov, a Russian scientist first suggests the concept in a technical journal 1966-1975: Isaacs and Pearson calculate specifics of what would be required 1979: Authur Clarke, in Fountains of Paradise describes a long filament lowered from geosynchronous orbit, and used to hoist objects from the surface 1999: Nasa holds first workshop on space elevators 2001: Bradley Edwards receives NAIC funding for Phase I space elevator mock-up Why Build It? Current: $$$: Space Shuttle Missions cost an average of $500,000,000 or $7,440/lb. Elevator: The projected 10 yr cost of the elevator is $40B (est. 500 missions) Future “missions” require no propellant, the major cost of rocket missions Current: Riding on a continuous and giant explosion is extraordinarily dangerous, as is re-entry (Challenger, Columbia). Elevator: No human risk, missions are unmanned. How Could It Be Done? The Components The Ribbon The Anchors The Climbers The Power The Ribbon: Design The Ribbon: Construction Initial production takes place on earth Aligned nanotubes are epoxyed into sheets, which are then combined (reinforced) Climbers have a similar system on-board to build tether Why Carbon Nanotubes? The Chiral Vector R = na1 + ma2, (where a1 , a2 are the primitive lattice vectors and n,m are integers) with wrapping angle ? connects atoms at A and B. The length of R is the circumference of the nanotube, and is created as A is rolled into B. The direction of the resulting tube axis vector will be perpendicular to R. Possible structures of nanotubes can be formed corresponding to wrapping angles 0≤?≤30?, (n,m) m≤n. Chirality The value