- #1
wally_moot
- 7
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Disclaimer: I'm not a physicist nor do I know calculus, but I'd appreciate a little guidance with a concept I've been thinking about. I know one would usually pay for this kind of advice, but since it's just for entertainment, I'm not asking for any equations to be solved, unless you're in the mood.
So here's the problem. Let's say you wanted to attach a stationary module to the hub of a space station. The station is spinning to create centrifugal force. Would it matter if the point of connection was closer to the center of spinning mass or farther away? Does the mass of the stationary part matter? Also if the end cap docking area is not spinning can it be unbalanced and radially asymmetrical?
Also would counter rotating a stationary end cap on one side of a centrifugal system create an axial thrust force? Would I have to spin an stationary end piece on the other side of equal configuration?
I understand that if this end cap docking area is spinning against the rotation of the station it will constantly be slowing the spin because the drive system to turn the end cap is creating an opposing force reducing angular velocity. The drive system would work on an internal gear system and the motors to drive the end cap area would be mounted on the stationary side. Also, rather than using a rocket to correct attitude from time to time on the station end, it would constantly have to be firing (A drawback).
I found one paper to be very helpful. The math was way over my head... :_(
http://rsta.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/359/1788/2161.full.pdf"
One thing that I could pull away from this paper is that having a hub on a tethered space station has a destabilizing effect, in that it adds to the tether weight and adds a complication to the system. I wonder if you could overbuild to compensate for that? :\
I'm aware of some sites that help to calculate centrifugal force:
http://www.calctool.org/CALC/phys/Newtonian/centrifugal"
This is basically what I would be looking at:
Radius of cable system (hub to station): ~3000 feet
Rotation rate: 1 rpm
Weight of Station: ~5000 tons
Cable strength required: 50 megapascals
I'll put a link to the video up, once it's finished. Thanks!
So here's the problem. Let's say you wanted to attach a stationary module to the hub of a space station. The station is spinning to create centrifugal force. Would it matter if the point of connection was closer to the center of spinning mass or farther away? Does the mass of the stationary part matter? Also if the end cap docking area is not spinning can it be unbalanced and radially asymmetrical?
Also would counter rotating a stationary end cap on one side of a centrifugal system create an axial thrust force? Would I have to spin an stationary end piece on the other side of equal configuration?
I understand that if this end cap docking area is spinning against the rotation of the station it will constantly be slowing the spin because the drive system to turn the end cap is creating an opposing force reducing angular velocity. The drive system would work on an internal gear system and the motors to drive the end cap area would be mounted on the stationary side. Also, rather than using a rocket to correct attitude from time to time on the station end, it would constantly have to be firing (A drawback).
I found one paper to be very helpful. The math was way over my head... :_(
http://rsta.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/359/1788/2161.full.pdf"
One thing that I could pull away from this paper is that having a hub on a tethered space station has a destabilizing effect, in that it adds to the tether weight and adds a complication to the system. I wonder if you could overbuild to compensate for that? :\
I'm aware of some sites that help to calculate centrifugal force:
http://www.calctool.org/CALC/phys/Newtonian/centrifugal"
This is basically what I would be looking at:
Radius of cable system (hub to station): ~3000 feet
Rotation rate: 1 rpm
Weight of Station: ~5000 tons
Cable strength required: 50 megapascals
I'll put a link to the video up, once it's finished. Thanks!
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