Accuracy in Space: Can 10000kg Bolts & Nuts be Precisely Screwed?

In summary: If it is 350 meters in radius, and 100 meters thick (about 1/7th of it's diameter, which seems to be in the right ballpark) it will have a volume of 38,484,510 meters^3. With a mass of 10,000 kg, that's a density of .0002 kg/m^3.Water has a density of 1000 kg / m^3, air at standard temperature and pressure has a density of 1 kg/m^3.... so this nut would weigh about 0.0002 kg.
  • #1
dev_arora_13
15
0
my question is about the availability of present technology

is it possible to screw a nut & bolt very ,very pricisely in space.
each of them will be of 10000kg and about 0.7km
most important-they will be rotating at a speed of 0.5 RPM
 
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  • #2
dev_arora_13 said:
my question is about the availability of present technology
is it possible to screw a nut & bolt very ,very pricisely in space.
each of them will be of 10000kg and about 0.7km
most important-they will be rotating at a speed of 0.5 RPM
That's the strangest question I have ever seen..:confused:
But, yes, we could screw the nut onto the bolt in space. What we can't do is get them into space in the first place..:cry:
 
  • #3
Actually, we could get them into space using present technology. For low Earth orbit, the Russian Energia has a payload of close to 200,000 pounds and the Saturn V maxes out at about 285,000 pounds.
 
  • #4
turbo-1 said:
Actually, we could get them into space using present technology. For low Earth orbit, the Russian Energia has a payload of close to 200,000 pounds and the Saturn V maxes out at about 285,000 pounds.
It's not the weight, it's the size. The OP said 0.7 km, which is 2296.587927 feet long. That would be a tough liftoff...:rolleyes:
 
  • #5
dev_arora_13 said:
my question is about the availability of present technology
is it possible to screw a nut & bolt very ,very pricisely in space.
each of them will be of 10000kg and about 0.7km
most important-they will be rotating at a speed of 0.5 RPM
I'm not sure what you mean by "very precisely". Can you give some examples of putting them together imprecisely? You mean like, banging together?


It seems to me that the biggest problem you'd have putting them together would be orbital mechanics. Their CoMs are in slightly different orbits. This is the problem the first apollo Soyuz docking missions had.
 
  • #6
dev_arora_13 said:
is it possible to screw a nut & bolt very ,very pricisely in space.
each of them will be of 10000kg and about 0.7km
Along the lines of what Labguy mentioned - the size mentioned here is rather impractical. No engineer in his or her right mind would design a structure requiring a 700 m nut or bolt!
 
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  • #7
Just speculation, but perhaps the OP is talking about docking and the nut and bolt are just analogies for the spacecraft and station. Just a wild guess, though...
 
  • #8
russ_watters said:
Just speculation, but perhaps the OP is talking about docking and the nut and bolt are just analogies for the spacecraft and station. Just a wild guess, though...
That sounds reasonable. On the other hand, something the size of 700m is not going to be launched in one piece for Earth's surface, but rather it will be assembled on orbit.

Just do the calculation on air resistance at typical launch velocities!

Also a large structure would have much smaller docking ports.
 
  • #9
Labguy said:
It's not the weight, it's the size. The OP said 0.7 km, which is 2296.587927 feet long. That would be a tough liftoff...:rolleyes:
Oops! I jumped on the trivial mass problem. I guess we could make a 0.7 km bolt that would pop into shape like a shock-corded tent pole, but why on Earth would the nut need to be 0.7 km in its largest dimension? Again though, if it needed to be a nut with 0.7 km of threaded contact area (more of a long threaded tube) we could engineer something that would fold down to a launchable size. A single monolithic cast and machined object? Nope - we can't do it.

Perhaps the OP can enlighten us as to why the question was posed in this way?
 
  • #10
Anything that requires a nut and bolt that big should probably be welded instead.
 
  • #11
Or velcro! :-p :devil:
 
  • #12
Danger said:
Anything that requires a nut and bolt that big should probably be welded instead.
lol... that's just what I was thinking. A nut and a bolt are nice general solution to fastening two things together. No need to re-invent the wheel. There's lots of sizes available.

But at 0.7km, you are re-inventing the wheel. It would probably be better to weld a stop onto a non-threaded shaft.
 
  • #13
dev_arora_13 said:
my question is about the availability of present technology
is it possible to screw a nut & bolt very ,very pricisely in space.
each of them will be of 10000kg and about 0.7km
most important-they will be rotating at a speed of 0.5 RPM

What is this nut supposed to be made of, anyway?

If it is 350 meters in radius, and 100 meters thick (about 1/7th of it's diameter, which seems to be in the right ballpark) it will have a volume of 38,484,510 meters^3. With a mass of 10,000 kg, that's a density of .0002 kg/m^3.

Water has a density of 1000 kg / m^3, air at standard temperature and pressure has a density of 1 kg/m^3. This nut has a density that's much lower than that of air!

Steel would have a density of about 8000 kg / m^3, or perhaps a little less.
 

Related to Accuracy in Space: Can 10000kg Bolts & Nuts be Precisely Screwed?

1. How important is accuracy in space?

Accuracy is extremely important in space because even the smallest mistake can have catastrophic consequences. In space, there is no gravity or atmosphere to help stabilize objects, so precise measurements and screwing of bolts and nuts is crucial for the success and safety of a space mission.

2. Can 10000kg bolts and nuts be screwed precisely in space?

Yes, it is possible to screw 10000kg bolts and nuts precisely in space. However, it requires advanced technology and techniques to ensure accuracy in the weightless and harsh environment of space.

3. What are the challenges of achieving accuracy in space?

One of the main challenges of achieving accuracy in space is the lack of gravity, which can make it difficult to hold objects in place while screwing in bolts and nuts. Additionally, the extreme temperatures and radiation in space can also affect the accuracy of equipment and tools.

4. How do scientists ensure accuracy in space?

Scientists use specialized tools and techniques to ensure accuracy in space, such as robotic arms with precise sensors and cameras, computer-aided design software, and robotic spacecraft to carry out tasks remotely. They also conduct extensive testing and simulations before and during a space mission to minimize errors and ensure accuracy.

5. What are the consequences of inaccurate screwing in space?

Inaccurate screwing in space can lead to equipment malfunction, damage to spacecraft, and even the failure of a space mission. It can also put the lives of astronauts at risk and result in costly repairs or replacements. Therefore, accuracy in space is crucial for the success and safety of space exploration.

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