A. Space Launch
Currently space launch is a hugely complex, expensive and energy-wasting endeavor. The ideal would be to create a means by which space launch could thus be much less expensive and much less energy-wastful, which adds to the expense both financially and environmentally.
One possible solution is that vehicles launched into orbit or returning from orbit could travel a single power-line, which is energized by returning vehicles whose descent is used to generate power, which is also supplemented by strategically placed by wind and solar energy-generation units throughout its length as well as at both ends. Ascent could also be supplemented by lighter-than-air technologies.
The power-line would obviously have to be hundreds of miles long, but if humans can build highways, power lines, phone lines, oil pipelines, etc. hundreds of miles long, then they could find a way to build an power line stretching through the sky for hundreds of miles as well, especially if it is largely self-supporting because of all of the business that would utilize it because it would make space launching so much cheaper.
The power line would be flexible and relatively light so it would be easier to support as well as being able to withstand the elements. And yet it would also have to serve as a kind of rail for the travel units to travel on.
The space travel vehicles traveling its length would obviously have to travel on or within special units designed specifically for travel along the power line, which would be designed to access the energy enclosed in the power line, as well as being able to pass each other as they went up and down. Thus the part contacting the power line would have to be like a track which fits around the power line, but which also accesses the energy within it, and also has the ability to somehow pass other units going by on the power line in the opposite direction. This is simply a mechanic design challenge which is probably easily surmounted.
Obviously this form of space launch would take much more time than the traditional form of space launch, but the savings in money and environmental damage might make this worthwhile, and it may not be so difficult to include in space-travel planning a day or two just for launching.
Security could be located at the energy generation stations and consist of:
The power line could also be financed by providing obviously very limited rental space on the security and energy-generation units along its length for:
A general question concerning space launches - has analysis been done of energy consumption for fast launches vs. slow launches been done? Maybe in general it might be cheaper to launch into space slowly at an angle on a type of airplane rather than to launch straight up through the atmosphere on a rocket at extreme speeds?
B. Space Travel
The main purposes of space travel are (which are largely self-explanatory):
The diagram below shows the basic layout of a typical Spaceship (space travel vehicle). The size of the different compartments would vary according to need:
CURRENT EXAMPLE OF SPACE STATION DEVELOPMENT:
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
The International Space Station is the current example of real-time space station development. It is important because it embodies the international cooperative effort which space travel is going to require. Life in space is going to bring great benefits to humankind, and one of the main benefits is international cooperation. The following section describes the history of that challenge.
GOTO: (Intro) (Life in Space) (Space Launch & Travel) (Stages of Development) (Conclusion)
COMMENTS: All comments are welcomed. Please email them to [email protected].
(C) David A. Kirshbaum (2005)