Aucbvax.5539 fa.space utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!space Fri Dec 25 03:17:00 1981 SPACE Digest V2 #69 >From OTA@S1-A Fri Dec 25 03:06:23 1981 SPACE Digest Volume 2 : Issue 69 Today's Topics: long extension cords & beanstalks Engine supported sykhook. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 24 Dec 1981 12:34:47-PST From: decvax!duke!phs!dennis at Berkeley To: duke!decvax!ucbvax!space@Berkeley Subject: long extension cords & beanstalks That seems to be a way to manage the SPS power-transmission problems: microwave beams to the top end of a beanstalk, then hardware transmission to the ground. Does anybody out there have lossage figures for vacuum power transmission, as opposed to 22,100 mi of vacuum + 200 mi of atmosphere? Granted, there's another conversion step involved (reception at the head of the beanstalk), but maybe the lack of atmosphere lossage will make up for that. Also, it gets rather neatly around those turkeys who think the microwaves will cook the atmosphere and the animals, and give an economic boost to the whole beanstalk system (cheap power -- that applies to the neighborhood around the base of the beanstalk, too!). ------------------------------ Date: 24 December 1981 20:35-EST From: Gene Salamin Subject: Engine supported sykhook. To: SPACE at MIT-MC REM's idea of an electric cable from SPS to earth inspired me with the idea of electric powered ion engines all along a skyhook to support its weight; also along REM's cable to support its weight too. This avoids the need for an exponential taper. ------------------------------ End of SPACE Digest ******************* ----------------------------------------------------------------- gopher://quux.org/ conversion by John Goerzen of http://communication.ucsd.edu/A-News/ This Usenet Oldnews Archive article may be copied and distributed freely, provided: 1. There is no money collected for the text(s) of the articles. 2. The following notice remains appended to each copy: The Usenet Oldnews Archive: Compilation Copyright (C) 1981, 1996 Bruce Jones, Henry Spencer, David Wiseman.