Human AchievementsCave man discovers fire
◦Long time agoFirst automobile
◦Late 1800’sFirst Airplane
◦1911Broke the sound barrier
◦1947
Space TravelFirst went into space – 1957
◦SputnikMan on the Moon – 1967
◦Saturn V 1967-1975Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle◦First Reusable launch vehicle◦$450 Million per mission launch
$22,000 per kg
Possible SolutionsRail gunsNew Shuttle
◦OrionRocket Plane
◦Spaceship OnePermanent blimp
◦Horizontal ascender Space PierSpace Elevator
SPACE ELEVATOREstimated Costs
◦$1.48 per kgTechnology already exists
◦Ground Station◦Tether◦Space Station◦Beam Source◦Climber
Elevator Components
Ground Station
Tether
Space StationClimber
Beam Source
Ground StationMobile
◦Similar to oil platformLocation?
◦Off the coast of South America/Mexico
◦EquatorFunction as an anchor for the
tether
TetherCarbon Nanotubes
◦Has 26,000 ksi tensile strength ◦Steel – 798 ksi
Space StationLarge Mass
◦Geosynchronous orbit◦Start small and send stuff up
Increasing mass
Beam SourceLaser
◦BIG To be determined by mass of climber
◦Types Chemical Solid state Gas Dye Semi-conductor
Climber100 mphCarry heavy payloads
◦Cheap $1.48 per kg
Potential ProblemsCable StrengthSpace junkMeteors Failure CascadeCorrosionMaterial DefectsWeatherVibrational harmonicsVan Allen belts (radiation exposure)
Space Elevator Movie
2008 CompetitionPower beaming options
• Laser
Ascent/tether height• 1000 m
Tether geometry• 3/16” round cable
Average ascent velocity• ≥ 5 m/s
What are we doing?Ground Station ComponentsClimbing Mechanism
Laser Control• All teams will use the TrumpF TruDisk 8002 High Powered Laser for Transmission
• Track length is 1 km
• Everything else; TBD
1. (Stage 1) Design a receiving unit enables basic feedback of laser pointer location
Tracking System
2. (Stage 2) Transmit display data wirelessly to remote PC
3. (Stage 3) Mount laser to a 2-axis gimbal assembly; Use real time data acquired by a PC to track receiving unit and correct for azimuth and pitch
Prototype• Parts
• Photo-transistors• CPLD• Laser • Components – IC’s, resistors, caps, LED’s, etc.
• Circuits (bread board)• Analog-Digital• Proto-board Layout
Mechanical ClimberSimple and adaptable
◦For competition changesRoller mechanism to climb cableHope to show it off at expo
Future Senior Design TeamsPower Converting/ReceivingLaser/optical control
◦Programming of LaserPhotovoltaic Supporting Structure
QUESTIONS???