2019/08/25 by Zephyr Penoyre, Emily Sandford, Penoyre, Zephyr +1 · 2 voices
Physics and Astronomy · Engineering · #Planetary Science and Exploration #Space Satellite Systems and Control #Astro and Planetary Science
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1908.09339
Perhaps the biggest hurdle to mankind's expansion throughout the Solar System\nis the prohibitive cost of escaping Earth's gravitational pull. In its many\nforms, the space-elevator provides a way to circumvent this cost, allowing\npayloads to traverse along a cable extending from Earth to orbit. However,\nmodern materials are not strong enough to build a cable capable of supporting\nits own weight. In this work we present an alternative to the classic space\nelevator, within reach of modern technology: The Spaceline. By extending a\nline, anchored on the moon, to deep within Earth's gravity well, we can\nconstruct a stable, traversable cable allowing free movement from the vicinity\nof Earth to the Moon's surface. With current materials, it is feasible to build\na cable extending to close to the height of geostationary orbit, allowing easy\ntraversal and construction between the Earth and the Moon.\n