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From: J.JPM@LOTS-B (Jim McGrath)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: The Bootstrap Problem
Message-ID: <12173196004.103.J.JPM@LOTS-B>
Date: Mon, 6-Jan-86 20:22:49 EST
Article-I.D.: LOTS-B.12173196004.103.J.JPM
Posted: Mon Jan  6 20:22:49 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 8-Jan-86 06:05:30 EST
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The ARPA Internet
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As much as I like to play with concepts such as 200 km long
accelerators in orbit to boost sub-orbital payloads to low earth
orbit, these proposals have usually left me with an empty feeling.
The problem is that in order to construct such a large structure in
space, you already have to have a good space transportation system. In
other words, how do we get there from here?

What do people think of the prospects of placing a SMALL accelerator
into orbit, and using it to give a velocity boost to payloads coming
from earth?  This would still require some form of earth based
accelerator system or the like, but over time you could, by building
more orbital accelerators, reduce the velocity that needs to be
imparted on earth.  This would allow you to build more, cheaper earth
based accelerators, and thus a positive feedback would begin.

The question is, what is the maximum size (in length and acceleration)
of an orbital accelerator that we could reasonaby construct using
Shuttle or immediate post-Shuttle systems?  And what is the biggest
earth based accelerator/launch system that we could construct?
Finally, can the first impart enough velocity to the second to make
orbital velocity?


Jim
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