If you can get a floating structure that extends up to 60 km, extending it down a few extra kilometers will be many, many times easier than literally building a mountain.
Ring spins at orbital velocity while structure stays stationary.
As one example, your ring needs to be [...] have a very large tension on it to support the excess speed it needs to support the station and remain in orbit
The mountain of waste:The cost as far as I have calculated is very high and not necessarily eco-friendly which out-waysthe benefit of a communal landfill. I am however, still investigating a few options, mainly pipelines. The thoughts have been based on all the garbage converging to a single point on the planet, but perhaps multiple 'space elevators' might relax that eventually.In any case, meberbs is right regarding the actual gain of creating a mountain versus droppingmore cable.
You have introduced an interesting concept though, maybe some pay-loads just simply by-passthe SPACE DOCK and go straight to the SUMMIT when necessary.
I wasn't saying to eliminate the other orbital stations, I said to use the tether to eliminate the rocket burn that is required to move the payload to another orbit.
Just as a point of clarification, [...] Some system is needed to keep this type of apparatus in orbit and spinning.
My reasoning for it was that the Pay-load (at 5,000Kg) could be solely used for cargo/passengers, extra fuel and as a heat-shield. The OPUM was there to be the mechanism part of the vehicle.If the Pay-load needs to be self-propelled to reach the SPACE DOCK, then it probably would need to be bigger and it would be even more demanding on the ramp.
Thank you for your reply Paul451Here is the latest iteration: