Ciccarelli.PA@PARC-MAXC.ARPA@sri-unix.UUCP (06/02/83)
The "dusty deceleration" suggestion brings up an old topic which may be relevant in a lunar context: the "Skyhook" idea. As I recall, the concept was to anchor one end of a strong cable (Kevlar?) to the planet surface, and extend the other end out into orbit, then use the thing as a support for an elevator-style operation between orbit and surface. I've heard of the constraints on skyhook design as applied to Earth (winds, air traffic, and required material strength), but wouldn't a lunar skyhook be much easier to construct? Can someone provide me with a pointer to design equations or articles on same? This doesn't achieve the same end as dust-deceleration, i.e. landing a ship at perigee (peri-luna??), however a "lander" in the conventional sense might not be needed at all. /John