Interplanetary mission support from galactic harbour apex anchor

Peter Swan, Michael Fitzgerald, Matthew Peet

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

As humanity expands off Earth, the need for support increases at a tremendous rate. The mass per day required to be delivered to the Moon, Mars and other destinations will stress out the current rocket based approach unless something revolutionary is supported. A Space Elevator allows the growth of humans off-planet to accelerate with three major improvements: - massive movement of mission support equipment - a tremendous opening up of launch windows - shorter travel times. With Mars as the destination of a recent Arizona State University research study, their results show that the delivery time for supplies from the Earth can become very short. In addition, the concept of one launch window every two years is collapsed to multiple launches each week towards Mars. The essence of this change is the tripling of kinetic energy at the Earth's sphere of influence(SOI) compared to rockets entering the Hohmann transfer ellipse. The resultant increase in energy is enabled by the release from 100,000 km altitude Apex Anchor rotating with the Earth. These potential and kinetic energies result in a hyperbolic orbit departing the Earth. This ASU study was aimed at determining "time of flight" from Earth to Mars when departure angle and energy at the edge of the SOI reflected the strengths of having space elevators at the Equator. This paper expands beyond the recognition of daily departures to Mars with tremendous energy and addresses the opportunities available for massive logistics support.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberIAC-19_D4_3_3_x49354
JournalProceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC
Volume2019-October
StatePublished - 2019
Event70th International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2019 - Washington, United States
Duration: Oct 21 2019Oct 25 2019

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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