The Leo Archipelago: A System of Earth-Rings for Communications, Mass-Transport to Space, Solar Power, and Control of Global Warming

摘要

A multi-purpose low-earth-orbit system of rings circling the earth - the "LEOARCHIPELAGO" - is proposed as a means of solving or bypassing many majorproblems hindering man's quest to get into space. A fiber-optic ring about theearth would be an initial testing and developmental stage for the ring systems,while providing cash-flow through a LEO-based, high-band-width, world-widecommunication system. A Low-Earth-Orbit-based space-elevator system,"Sling-on-a-Ring," is proposed as the crucial developmental stage of the LEOArchipelago. Being a LEO-based heavy-mass lifter, rather than earth- orGEO-based, it is much less massive and therefore less costly than otherproposed space-elevators. With the advent of lower-cost, higher-mass transportto orbit, the options for further space development (e.g., communications,space solar power, radiation dampers, sun shades, and permanent LEO habitation)are greatly expanded. This paper provides an update of the Sling-on-a-Ringconcept in terms of new materials, potential applications, and trade-offsassociated with an earlier model. The impact of Colossal Carbon Tubes, CCT, amaterial with high tensile strength, extremely-low density, and other favorableproperties and new technologies (e.g., solar-powered lasers, power beaming tonear-space and earth, and thermal-control systems) on the development ofassociated LEO-Ring systems (e.g., "Solar-Shade Rings" and "Power Rings") isalso explored. The material's effect on the timeline for the system developmentindicates the feasibility of near-term implementation of the system (possiblywithin the decade). The Sling-on-a-Ring can provide a less-expensive,environment-friendly, mode of access to space. This would pave the way (viaeventual operation at >1000 tonnes per day by 2050) for large scale developmentof space-based technologies.