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From: eugene@ames.UUCP (Eugene Miya)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Asynchronous orbital skyhooks (those two masses...)
Message-ID: <1321@ames.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 6-Jan-86 19:57:49 EST
Article-I.D.: ames.1321
Posted: Mon Jan  6 19:57:49 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 8-Jan-86 07:40:59 EST
References: <8512312026.AA15784@s1-b.arpa> <70@dg_rtp.UUCP> <1274@sdcsvax.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: NASA-Ames Research Center, Mtn. View, CA
Lines: 44

> 
> Answer: NASA seems politically unable to devote visible resources to
> any unproven propulsion technologies, including tethers, light sails,
> ion rockets, etc., regardless of their technical merit.  The major
> contractors mostly follow NASA's lead.  However, other organizations,
> e.g., CALSPACE, the World Space Foundation, SSI, and many independent
> researchers are concentrating their research on these unproven, but
> much more promising technologies.

"promising" is a value judgment.  Some of these areas have had
"visible resources" depending at what budget level you looked.
An ion engine was the only way to seriously consider
a Halley mission, but then the President cut this, Ed Meese even came
to talk to Goldberger at Caltech about this and other directions for
JPL.  We need more of these technologies.  Question: how do you balance
these new technologies with the "research" which flies on the craft?
You have to argue with the geologist and the planetary scientist
who want results: tried and true.  It's not just NASA, we're just caught in the
middle.

> 	Question: Why wouldn't an asynchronous skyhook allow a
> 	high-flying air-breather (or detachable part thereof) to be
> 	injected into LEO?
> 
> Answer: A familiar scenario from previous articles on asynchronous skyhooks
> is a rendezvous between a 747 carrying a cargo module piggyback, and
> a tether. . . . 
> than to develop a hypersonic aircraft for the rendezvous.
> 
> _Greg

Can't wait till the test Tethered Satellite goes up eh?  Yes we are
looking at Mach 27 vehicles, and yes we are looking at cables.
We can use the bucks, however.

From the Rock of Ages Home for Retired Hackers:
--eugene miya
  NASA Ames Research Center
  {hplabs,ihnp4,dual,hao,decwrl,allegra}!ames!aurora!eugene
  emiya@ames-vmsb.ARPA

General disclaimer: the above are the opinions of the author and not
the Center or Agency.  Any mention of commerical products does not
constitute an endorsement and is only mentioned as a point of reference.