Author Topic: Gas Giant ISRU?  (Read 22065 times)

Offline lamontagne

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4577
  • Otterburn Park, Quebec,Canada
  • Liked: 3958
  • Likes Given: 758
Re: Gas Giant ISRU?
« Reply #20 on: 03/17/2022 02:46 pm »
For scale, the objects with orange bands are slightly larger than shipping cargo containers.
« Last Edit: 03/17/2022 02:46 pm by lamontagne »

Offline Zed_Noir

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5490
  • Canada
  • Liked: 1812
  • Likes Given: 1302
Re: Gas Giant ISRU?
« Reply #21 on: 03/19/2022 06:47 pm »
Does a tether space elevator make any sense for gas giant atmospheric harvesting?

Offline lamontagne

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4577
  • Otterburn Park, Quebec,Canada
  • Liked: 3958
  • Likes Given: 758
Re: Gas Giant ISRU?
« Reply #22 on: 03/19/2022 08:27 pm »
Does a tether space elevator make any sense for gas giant atmospheric harvesting?
Yes, there are a number of studies on the subject.  It's probably going to require a fairly advanced civilization for support, although.  It might combine nicely with ISRU for fuel to maintain tether altitude.  Tethers can also extract power from a magnetic field, and could serve as a power source as well.  Just Google scholar Jupiter and tethers.

The image shows a rotating tether and Jupiter.  In the foreground a visiting ship is coming in to collect the He3.
« Last Edit: 03/19/2022 08:30 pm by lamontagne »

Offline Robotbeat

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39463
  • Minnesota
  • Liked: 25588
  • Likes Given: 12245
Re: Gas Giant ISRU?
« Reply #23 on: 03/20/2022 01:30 am »
A rotating tether can significantly reduce the required orbital velocity from the rocket side. Enough to make the requirements to reach Low Uranus Orbit to be the same as Low Earth Orbit (if you include the faster rotation speed of Uranus compared to Earth).

(also helps reduce reentry velocities, which makes a chemical, reusable Uranus launch vehicle feasible.)

Current materials could suffice for the ~5.5km/s tip speed you'd need. The mass ratio wouldn't be great, but it'd be doable.
« Last Edit: 03/20/2022 01:34 am by Robotbeat »
Chris  Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

To the maximum extent practicable, the Federal Government shall plan missions to accommodate the space transportation services capabilities of United States commercial providers. US law http://goo.gl/YZYNt0

 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
0