Tethered Elevator Design For Space Station

    Authors

    L. A. Anderson;M. H. Haddock

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Spacecr. Rockets

    Keywords

    Engineering, Aerospace

    Abstract

    This paper describes the conceptual engineering design of a space station elevator that operates on a 10-km tether spanning the distance between the space station and a tethered platform. The unmanned mobile structure provides access to residual gravity levels, remote servicing, and transportation to any point along the tether. Design requirements including torque and power requirements are discussed. A configuration is proposed including the robotics, drive mechanism, and power generation and transmission subsystems. Design emphasis is placed on the hooking/unhooking of the tether and the conception of a suitable capture and drive mechanism to interface with the tether to control elevator motion. A brief discussion of the decison matrix analysis is provided to indicate the method used to select the chosen tethered elevator and subsystem configurations. The tethered elevator design illustrates the uses of such a device for space station operations.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets

    Volume

    29

    Issue/Number

    2

    Publication Date

    1-1-1992

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    233

    Last Page

    238

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:A1992HM95400012

    ISSN

    0022-4650

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