Three-dimensional analysis of a counterweight type space elevator

Abstract

Space elevators studied thus far have been mainly the climber type, in which a cable connects the ground to a space station and the payload is transported by climbers ascending and descending along the cable. However, this type of system has problems, such as the difficulty of supplying energy to climbers and a short lifespan owing to the abrasion of the cable and climber wheels during operation. To avoid these problems, in this study, we investigate a novel counterweight-type space elevator. This system consists of two cables: a guide cable that withstands the tension applied to the structure and a moving cable that connects two gondolas, one at either end of the cable, attaches to a driving wheel in the space station, and transports the payload in the gondolas by driving the wheel. In this study, we analyzed the cable dynamics by using the point mass cable model developed by our group when the counterweight type is applied between the station and the ground, and we calculated the energy necessary for actual operation. As a result, when the counterweight type is applied between the Mars gravity center (altitude 3900 km) and the ground, while the climber type is applied at altitudes above that, the system uses less energy than conventional climber-type space elevators.