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From: mmm@weitek.UUCP (Mark Thorson)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Skyhooks, tethers, and kites.
Message-ID: <350@weitek.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 27-Dec-85 16:36:45 EST
Article-I.D.: weitek.350
Posted: Fri Dec 27 16:36:45 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Dec-85 23:12:19 EST
Organization: Weitek Corp. Sunnyvale Ca.
Lines: 18
Keywords: skyhooks, tethers, kites

With all the interest in skyhooks and tethers, I'm inspired to ask "How about
a kite?"  Is there enough gas streaming off the earth or the sun to catch in
a kite?  Of course, you'd have to attach the string to a point on the earth
that doesn't move -- either the north pole or the south.

Are there any obvious reasons this would be a dumb idea?  I can see some
advantages.  If you had a rope into space, you'd have to CLIMB up it (unless
it's HM's rotating skyhook).  But the kite string would be tangent to the
earth, hence you could WALK into space (its only a hundred miles to LEO, any
good athlete should be able to make it in a few days).

I can see some disadvantages for the ground crew.  You're stuck at the north
pole, for one.  You spend the day watching the kite through the crosshairs
of a scope.  If it dips toward the equator you reel in the Kevlar cable,
if it swings east to west you let some out.  Worst duty in the navy (doesn't
this sound like a navy operation).

Mark Thorson   (...!cae780!weitek!mmm)