[SpaceProgram] Lagrange Solar Sail Challenge

[David M.]

Or the gondola could fall down the same rope it went up.


On 10/04/2012 09:53 AM, Lee von Kraus wrote:
> the website says the helikites can go up "thousands" of feet, not sure 
> how many thousands though, but I guess at least more than 2000 if 
> their using the word correctly.
>
> You're right about all that cable weight weighing things down too 
> much. So it might be best to have a space-elevator-like gondola (as 
> suggested previously by Matt) thing that can climb up the single rope 
> that's anchoring the helikite to the ground. The gondola can be 
> powered by a laser from the ground (although I'm not sure how far a 
> reasonably sized laser can shoot power). That gondola would drive the 
> capsule up to the helikite and then 'throw' the capsule off and let it 
> fall to the ground where we could have some sort of cushion to catch 
> it. The capsules could have fins on them to better ensure that they 
> fall straight down
>
> As the fallen capsule is being retrieved the gondola would already be 
> on its way back down to get the same, or another capsule. The system 
> wouldn't be too speedy but would still be a useful tool, I'd imagine 
> the demand for usage would be pretty high from schools and amateur 
> scientists that can't afford other micro-G options.
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Oct 4, 2012 at 7:29 AM, Jerry Isdale <jerry at mauimakers.com 
> <mailto:jerry at mauimakers.com>> wrote:
>
>     Depending on how high you go and the kg/m mass of the cable, it is
>     possible that the weight of the 2x length of cable could be more
>     than the weight of the winch.
>     using this kevlar rope as a guide...
>     http://www.pelicanrope.com/kevlar12strandrope.html
>     say we pick the 7/16", 15,000lb tensile strength rope at
>     5lbs/100ft. ('cause thats an easy weight)
>     a 1,000ft length will weigh... 50lbs?
>
>     1000 ft will not give much free fall time. Parabolic flights are
>     on the order of 8000ft deltas ...400lbs
>     Although rolling all that cable up into the helikite would require
>     a lot of space/big spool.
>
>     Jerry Isdale
>     http://MauiMakers.com
>     http://www.mauimakers.com/blog/thursday-public-meeting/
>
>     On Oct 3, 2012, at 5:04 AM, Lee von Kraus wrote:
>
>>     The best way to maximize the allowable experimental capsule
>>     weight would be to_have all the motor mechanisms on the ground
>>     _as shown in the attached figure. That way the only mechanism,
>>     other than the capsule, that needs to be carried by the helikite
>>     is a pulley (and the weight of the capsule line).
>>
>>
>>
>>     On Wed, Oct 3, 2012 at 10:42 AM, Lee von Kraus <leevonk at gmail.com
>>     <mailto:leevonk at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>
>>         Here are some useful excerpts:
>>         "
>>         The 10 cubic metre Skyhook Helikite is able to fly
>>         to thousands of feet in winds up to 50 mph lifting a payload
>>         of 5kg.
>>
>>         Helikites are designed for foul weather deployment and foul
>>         weather flight. Even the largest Skyhook Helikites can be
>>         launched and retrieved in all the winds that they can fly in.
>>         So deployment and flight can occur safely in winds up to 50
>>         or 60 mph.
>>
>>         The new Cased Helikite Aerostat Maintainable Platform (CHAMP)
>>         (see products section) allows the deployment of a 10 cubic
>>         metre Skyhook Helikite within 30 minutes. The unique part of
>>         the CHAMP is that it also includes an excellent Helibase with
>>         top cover thus also creating a permanent, safe base for the
>>         Helikite - not just a minimal launch platform.
>>
>>         Helikites can even be launched and recovered remotely - with
>>         no people present at all. They are simply winched off or onto
>>         the Helibase.
>>         "
>>
>>
>>         On Wed, Oct 3, 2012 at 10:37 AM, Lee von Kraus
>>         <leevonk at gmail.com <mailto:leevonk at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>
>>             here is a link better describing the advantages of helikites:
>>
>>             http://www.allsopp.co.uk/index.php?mod=page&id_pag=24
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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