Rotor Experiments
I seem to be answering my own questions again, but here are some results of applying a gravity gradient boom to a revolving beam rotor, as envisaged for a habitat in space.
This sidesteps the unruly problems discovered with counter-rotating solutions.
The rotor would...
Gravity Gradient Boom
An addendum to the rotational torque discussion.
I have found out that a common method of stabilising orbiting satellites is to use a gravity gradient boom, where a weight is deployed on the end of a long tether that acts as an anchor relative to Earth's centre of...
Thanks for your input, Fred. This confirms what I understood.
I always seek out evidencing that supports these illustrative assertions, and in this case there did not seem to be anything comparable to place the concept in context.
Doubts had been raised in my mind as to whether linear...
Images Update
No problem, Danger, our NEA site must be better ringfenced than I thought (a Forum too).
I enclose some attachments with the design in question, to browse at leisure glass in hand.
Sorry about the blocked access.
Jan
Not So Much a Bearing as a Locator
Thanks for your reply, Danger.
The problem arises from keeping the axis of this station still, while maintaining the rotation of the beams. To prevent wobble in the rotation, some kind of lateral guide holds the rotor in place on the axial cylinder, while it...
Hi, having trouble finding detailed experimental evidence to support some conceptual illustration work I am undertaking to describe a manned orbital habitat in LEO, that can function as a long-term maintenance centre.
A draft schematic of the current idea can be found here...