05-29-2016, 10:19 AM
A few random thoughts here:
1) Are perfectly circular orbits actually stable in nature? My understanding was that pretty much every orbit we find is an ellipse, not a perfect circle. Not sure if our satellites fit into this or not.
2) If the cone stations need to be stabilized, perhaps you could do one of these options:
a) Link them in counter-rotating pairs just like an O'Neill hab so that they stabilize each other. If the linking mechanism is of sufficient size, there shouldn't be issues of shading or the like.
b) Instead of putting them in orbit around the star, suspend each station using statite technology. Actively controlled solar sails hold the station stationary in relation to the star rather than being in orbit. Of course you'd lose a certain amount of area to light sail instead of collector stations, but perhaps you could use the sail as a power sources as well, either by making it operate as a solar cell or by reflecting light onto some kind of thermal power station.
Just some thoughts,
Todd
1) Are perfectly circular orbits actually stable in nature? My understanding was that pretty much every orbit we find is an ellipse, not a perfect circle. Not sure if our satellites fit into this or not.
2) If the cone stations need to be stabilized, perhaps you could do one of these options:
a) Link them in counter-rotating pairs just like an O'Neill hab so that they stabilize each other. If the linking mechanism is of sufficient size, there shouldn't be issues of shading or the like.
b) Instead of putting them in orbit around the star, suspend each station using statite technology. Actively controlled solar sails hold the station stationary in relation to the star rather than being in orbit. Of course you'd lose a certain amount of area to light sail instead of collector stations, but perhaps you could use the sail as a power sources as well, either by making it operate as a solar cell or by reflecting light onto some kind of thermal power station.
Just some thoughts,
Todd