Re: An answer to the space elevator

From: Andrew Nowicki (andrew_at_nospam.com)
Date: 06/27/04 

Date: Sun, 27 Jun 2004 23:43:16 +0200

James Bowery wrote:

> Hans Moravec's Rotovator(tm) picks up hypersonic (near mach 12)
> payloads from an altitude of 100km and slings them to orbit.

This is a perennial topic on sci.space.tech
and sci.space.policy.

You are confusing rotovator with bolo.
Rotovator picks up payload from the Earth
surface, while bolo provides assist to
a rocket launcher.

Most sci.space.tech posters despise
hypersonic air-breathers. I agree with
the majority. Mach 12 is 4 km/s, which
is one half of the orbital velocity.
4 km/s is too much for the first
generation bolo. 2 km/s makes more
sense. The main issue is the best
material for the bolo -- nobody knows
if strong plastic fibers can survive
in the low Earth orbit. You can learn
more about bolos from:
http://www.islandone.org/LEOBiblio/SPBI1SL.HTM
http://www.islandone.org/LEOBiblio/SPBI122.HTM
http://www.islandone.org/LEOBiblio/SPBI114.HTM
http://www.islandone.org/LEOBiblio/SPBI132.HTM