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Orbital Stability of Skyhooks
Author(s) -
Steindl Alois
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
pamm
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1617-7061
DOI - 10.1002/pamm.200310340
Subject(s) - geosynchronous orbit , geostationary orbit , string (physics) , orbit (dynamics) , stability (learning theory) , point (geometry) , satellite , connection (principal bundle) , hook , geodesy , geology , physics , aerospace engineering , geometry , computer science , mathematics , theoretical physics , astronomy , engineering , mechanical engineering , machine learning
The sky‐hook, that is a string forming a connection from the surface of the Earth to a satellite in geostationary orbit, which may be used as track for an Earth to space elevator, is an old dream of mankind, originating about 100 years ago in Russia. Besides the question of feasibility from a technological point of view also the question concerning the stability of such a configuration has not yet been completely solved. Under the assumption that a proper material (e.g. “Bucky Tubes” with very high tensile strength and small density) is available, making the connection possible from the technological point of view, we address the question of stability of the radial relative equilibrium of a very long tapered string on a circular geosynchronous orbit around the Earth.