[SpaceProgram] Lagrange Solar Sail Challenge

[Matt Johnson]

How long would the free fall be for a 2000 foot fall? I wonder if it
would be enough. We would probably need a much higher balloon and
tether. Of course this exacerbates the problems of hoisting the tether
and gondola and powering the gondola. This is almost starting to sound
like engineering.

--
Matt

On Thu, Oct 4, 2012 at 7:53 AM, Lee von Kraus <leevonk at gmail.com> 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> 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> 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> 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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>
>
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