| |
Welcome to the January 2018 Edition of the ISEC Newsletter
Dear Fellow Space Elevator enthusiast,
In this edition, the ISEC Board is reflecting back on 2017 with our accomplishments, and looking forward to what we want to do in 2018. We also have a story about students who are getting excited about the Space Elevator, as well as the final Summer 2017 Intern report. There are also some exciting upcoming Space Elevator related
events around the world that you will want to check out. Thank you for reading and lending your support
in the development of Space Elevators!
As always, you will find notices of
several open volunteer positions (a great way to help this project, even if
you’re not a scientist or engineer) and a reminder that all ISEC
reports, Yearly Reports, CLIMB Journals and the Via Ad Astra Magazine, are now
available FOR FREE in electronic (pdf) format at ISEC.org. There is
plenty of work to be done!
If you want to help us make a space
elevator happen, JOIN
ISEC and get
involved! A space elevator would truly revolutionize life on earth and open up
the solar system and beyond to all of us.
Please don’t
forget to LIKE US on Facebook, FOLLOW US on Twitter, and
enjoy the photos and videos that we’ve posted on Flickr and YouTube – all under our Social Identity of ISECdotORG.
Thank you,
Mark Dodrill
ISEC Webmaster
President's Corner
Achievements/Hopes -- January, 2018
This month’s newsletter will summarize our
achievements this year and highlight out near-term future for ISEC. As the President, I am able to take credit
for the good work of all our volunteers – thanks everyone for the great year
and the significant progress we have made towards our vision: A
world with inexpensive, safe, routine, and efficient access to space for the
benefit of all mankind.
OK let’s lay out our successes:
-
Successful International Space Elevator Conference
[Aug 2017]
-
Added new Board member – Welcome Sandee Schaeffer –
Education lead
-
Published Design Considerations ….. Apex Anchor and
GEO Node
-
Multiple presentations: National Space Society, St.
Louis; ISEC Seattle; International Astronautical Federation Congress, Adelaide;
British Interplanetary Society, London; Students for Exploration and
Development of Space, Orlando Florida; and others.
-
Multiple visits to schools: High Tech High [Calif], Arizona State Univ,
etc.
-
Developed the powerful concept of a Galactic Harbour
which combines the space elevator transportation system with space elevator
commercial enterprise systems for a
vision of a robust capability.
Now for the future hopes:
-
Of course we always look forward to the yearly
conference in Seattle
-
Many more presentations around the world coming up
this year
-
Robust involvement with the National Space Society’s
International Space Development Conference in Los Angeles [3 hour track on
SE’s]
-
Support for the JSEA’s Black Rock Nev. Global Space
Elevator Challenge
-
And of course, two more studies underway with expected
publication dates.
-
With, a surprise activity showing up in the late May
time period.
-
Expansion of the Galactic Harbour Concept to embrace growing
enthusiasm inside the space elevator community.
Keep Climbing my Friends,
Pete Swan
President, ISEC
Space Elevator Architecture Note #14
Michael A. Fitzgerald
Published December 2017
The
Delineation of the Galactic Harbour
Space
Elevator Transportation System
versus
Space Elevator Enterprise System
Introduction
Some system engineering
functional definitions crept into our publications without a determination of
whether they were Transportation or Enterprise functions. Makes them like
orphans or foster children. Those definitions should go through a vetting
or adoption; in brainstorming sessions or mini-workshops. During this
year, newsletter readers are asked for help. ISEC is conducting the first
delineation brainstorming session by e mail. Your opinions and insights
are welcome, valuable, and needed! But first, some background and a
discussion of the process of delineation. No worries. It is easy!!
The Galactic Harbour of
mid-century and beyond will never happen unless we talk about it now. For
the last two years, the attendees at the ISEC Space Elevator Conferences
robustly voiced their views about the Elevator and what it should do. These new
ideas and enlarged visions have been reviewed and one “trend” was
evident. Every function cited was needed; in one way or another. However,
little distinction was offered as to whether the function was Transportation related
(functions supporting access to space) or Enterprise functions (functions
supporting a business in space); at least not clearly. We need to
clean this up to better know what we are building and when. We are
building the Transportation System first; then the Enterprise System; according
to our Strategic Approach.
Continue reading the article here
Rierre Evellin Completes 2017 ISEC Summer Internship
Mr. Evellin is a recent graduate of the
International Space University. He was required to accomplish research and
provide a short thesis on a designated topic.
He chose a topic related to an active program within the European Space
Agency and the development of a Moon Village.
Mr. Evellin’s Title and Executive Summary
follow:
“Impact of the MoonVillage on a Lunar Space
Elevator”
This paper studies how a Lunar Space elevator and a
MoonVillage have an excellent synergy when designed together. The material and
equipment brought for the MoonVillage can be reused for the Lunar Space
Elevator while the Lunar Space Elevator can help to substantially develop the
Moon economy. Moreover, the location at the South Pole of the MoonVillage fits
construction, mining, and manufacturing facilities which will provide in-situ
resources for the Lunar Space Elevator.
Research
Projects – Dr. John Knapman, Research Director
2017 Achievements
The
multi-stage elevator is a blend of ideas from the space fountain, the launch
loop and High Stage One, which allows a space elevator to be built with
materials that are available now or soon will be. We have done work on
maintaining its stability and reducing its size below the ocean. We have
produced a bibliography of relevant publications to help new researchers. A
checklist for new ideas related to the space elevator is now on the web; it is
intended to help innovators to assess new ideas on infrastructure. We also
produced a couple of documents on balloon experiments. A successful seminar at
the British Interplanetary Society included an exciting presentation by Adrian
Nixon on single-crystal graphene.
2018 Expectations
We hope
2018 will see more progress on long, strong, light materials and on the
multi-stage space elevator. We want to start implementing a comprehensive
simulation package for the space elevator. Work on a space elevator for Mars is
likely to progress in an interesting way.
Earth Port Update – Vern Hall, Earth Port Harbor Master
2017
Achievements
Continued to expand the concept
for the Earth Port region its facilities that were the subject of ISEC’s
published 2015 Position Paper that was presented at the 2016 Conference. The
focus was on informing the ISEC community on various aspects of the existing world-wide transportation chain of ocean shippers, railroads,
truckers, airlines and related industries. The main point was that the eventual
operation of the space elevator would add a third dimension to this well
established and ever evolving international system. Introduced such concepts
as: blockchain technology and the Internet of Things (IofT) that the Space
Elevator enterprise will someday tie into and at its initial HQ/POC.
Delivered a paper at the 2017
Conference which focused on various aspects of the Earth Port Access City and
recommended that we give serious consideration to Honolulu, HI as the site
rather than San Diego, CA. Under this recommendation, Honolulu would serve as
the Access City for an Earth Port region to be located approximately due south
of it on or near the Equator. During the preparation of this study, the
availability of assigned space at GEO above such a location became a strong
determining factor in the recommendation.
2018
Expectations
Will continue to work with and
support ISEC’s Chief Architect as we further develop the details of the
Galactic Harbour. Particular emphasis will be on defining various aspects of
the Communications requirements within the Earth Port regional framework,
including payloads to/and from the Port Access City, across the ocean to the
Earth Port and the Space Elevator climbers up/down through the Earth’s
atmosphere. The results of this delineation will lead to future near-term and
long-term studies. The results of the on-going tether simulation work will also
be of value to the further understanding of the RIRO and other dynamic forces
that must be dealt with at the proposed floating Tether Termini platforms.
Will continue to review reports of advances
in the overall transportation industry that may be adapted to the operations of
the Earth Port. As an example, data-driven robotic technologies and equipment
are now be developed for fully automated cargo terminals and autonomous service
vessels (much like self-driving passenger vehicles). It seems likely this later
technology could be readily adapted to the service vessels that will be
operating within the Earth Port region.
ISEC Social Media/Web Site – Mark Dodrill
2017
Achievements
2017 was a significant year for the ISEC
web site. We made all ISEC publications available
on the web site for downloading by anyone for free, and to date 1,375 reports
have been downloaded! The technology
behind the web site was changed, resulting in a much better look and feel, as
well as fully supporting mobile devices.
We are keeping our Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn audiences informed
about space elevator related news and technologies more than ever before. The team did some Facebook Live recording
during the August conference in Seattle.
The Space Elevator article on Wikipedia has also been significantly
enhanced.
2018
Expectations
We are going to expand the Space Elevator
Architecture, Research, and History areas of the web site to give everyone more
access to the wealth of information available.
We are also looking into translating ISEC publications to other
languages and vice versa.
Upcoming
Space Elevator Related Events:
National Space Society
International Space Development Conference
Los Angeles, CA, USA May 24-27 2018
Space Elevator Track
Web Site for more information: http://isdc.nss.org/2018/
International Space Elevator Consortium
Space Elevator Conference 2018
Seattle Museum of Flight (Tentative)
Late August 2018 - Final date is TBD
Season of Giving
President’s Request
Please think about donating to a charitable organization, ISEC,
during this season of giving.
Our acceleration towards a real space elevator this year has been
exciting. As we have taken on more responsibilities, we have more
opportunities. Your support goes towards programs such as ISEC Summer
Internships. Thank you from the ISEC leadership team, especially your
president.
Note: Donation tab at www.isec.org – upper right – makes it easy.
Pete
|
| |
|
Email Marketing By
|
|
|
|
|