Space Tethers and Space Elevators

Michel Van Pelt has written a new book; Space Tethers and Space Elevators available at Amazon.com (but, unfortunately, not on Kindle).  I received my copy a few days ago, but will not be able to review it until after the upcoming Space Elevator Conference (coming soon – are you registered yet?  You should be…) – I’m just too busy preparing my two presentations.

I’m really looking forward to reading this book.  From the Amazon.com description:

“This detailed account of the possibilities of tethers in space, from very practical applications to (near) science fiction, gives an overview of the past, present and future of space tether development and presents the various concepts, ranging from those feasible in the near future to extremely innovative and challenging ideas. It shows how space tethers have already been used to stabilize spacecraft using tidal forces and to generate artificial gravity using a spinning system with a spacecraft connected to a counterweight via a cable. Tethers can also generate electricity by dragging spacecraft through the Earth’s magnetosphere, as was attempted with partial success during two Space Shuttle missions. Using electrodynamic forces, conductive tethers can also accelerate or brake a spacecraft. Probably the most exciting tether concept is the space elevator, consisting of an incredibly strong long cable that stretches from the Earth’s surface into space. Solar powered ‘climber’ machines, which are already under development, could use such a cable to haul cargo into orbit. The author also describes how space tethers can change the orbit of satellites, by effectively moving their center of gravity through the deployment of long cables. Tethers rotating at high speed can be used to accelerate or slow down spacecraft that briefly latch to them.”

Once I’ve read this book, I will post a review.

At The Space Review, Jeff Foust has just posted his review of the book.

Finally, here is an interesting website about tethers…