Safe Space Elevator - An Expectation to be Met Through a System Architecture Approach

摘要

The expectation by the public of the safety of an elevator is "no worries." Everyone expects to arrive safely when riding an elevator... even a Space Elevator. As such, the survival of the Space Elevator must also have extremely high expectation levels. The Space Elevator is now a real engineering project and is indeed one of the latest projects being considered within NASA as a new technology path. It should also be considered across the international space infrastructure as a potential breakthrough. To enable this remarkable engineering feat, on a par with linking of Gibraltar to Morocco, an architectural approach must be used to ensure the safe operation of a Space Elevator. This paper discusses the various aspects of a Space Elevator's survival plan. This includes debris and meteorite mitigation. Some survival concepts are the flat ribbon design to defeat multiple small meteorites or debris hits; orbital debris reduction (its time has come); rules of flight for LEO, MEO, and GEO missions (nodal control); and, multiple base legs to anchor the Space Elevator as a counter for the threats of a LEO orbital environment. Appropriate methodology will be applied to the Space Elevator depending upon unique threat regions: Low Earth Orbit: Excellent Tracking and Warning; De-Orbit of non-operational objects; Rules of the Road for new LEO spacecraft; and, Redundancy of Ribbons and Elevators below 2,500 kms (e.g. six ribbons in triangular arrangements to six terrestrial bases). Medium Earth Orbit: Tracking and Warning; Capture of GPS like orbital debris; Rules of the Road; and, Ribbon Redundancy. Geosynchronous Orbit: Tracking and Warning; Capture of old GEO sats (utilize the mass for Space Elevator counter weight); and, Ribbon Redundancy. Super Geo Orbits: Tracking and Warning; and, Ribbon Redundancy Key to the acceptance of any Space Elevator concept will be a systems approach across the total architecture for identifying and reducing risks. This paper will take a look at many approaches that will enhance its survivability. Segregation of the threat into altitude regions will lead to various priorities for many survival approaches. Indeed, a systems approach to the Space Elevator survival problem will change the issue from one that seems overwhelming to a recognizable risk issue that is well within current technologies and operational approaches. The expectation of a safe elevator ride is a must!