Dynamics of space cable systems
Abstract
The stationary motions of a cable system orbiting the earth are studied. The cable system consists of a vehicle with an engine, a connecting thin cable, and a satellite. The cable weight and the aerodynamic forces acting on the vehicle, the satellite, and the cable are considered. Low altitude cable systems are examined in detail including the heating regimes of the satellite and the cable, the cable parameters permissible by strength, the equilibrium cable system configurations, and the required thrust of the vehicle engine. In addition, the dynamics of the lunar cable system are studied. The lunar cable system consists of an orbital station bound to the surface of the moon by a long thin cable. It is shown that the orbital station may be stabilized by a long cable near the collinear libration point L1 or L2 of the earth-moon system.
- Publication:
-
Automatic Control in Space 1982
- Pub Date:
- 1983
- Bibcode:
- 1983aucs.proc..409B
- Keywords:
-
- Artificial Satellites;
- Cables (Ropes);
- Dynamic Characteristics;
- Tethered Satellites;
- Aerodynamic Characteristics;
- Boundary Value Problems;
- Distributed Parameter Systems;
- Lunar Satellites;
- Astrodynamics