🚀 go-pugleaf

RetroBBS NetNews Server

Inspired by RockSolid Light RIP Retro Guy

Article View: sci.electronics
Article #15951

Flywheels and Space Stations

#15951
From: Filip M. Gieszczykiewicz fmgst+
Date: Sun, 03 Jan 1993 15:56
39 lines
2318 bytes
	Greetings. How about a bit of a change of subject. This one is
	a bit more practical (and I'd patent if I could) [smirk]

	I'm sure most folks have seen the designs for 23rd century space
	stations - you know, the "wheel" ones. Yup, how practical would
	it be to use the spinnin motion of some parts of the station as a
	storage medium? From my point of view, the gyroscopic effect of
	a giga-flywheel would be benificial because it would stabilize the
	station and oppose all the forces like shuttles docking, folks
	shooting each other with guns [hey, how do you handle that part
	of social "interaction"? Gee, it's bad enough if it happens in
	a plane...[evil grin]], and other events that would otherwise be
	handled with rocket jets.

	Also, as you may suspect, the station would aready be spinning to
	simulate gravity (at least some portions of it would be, anyways).
	Hey, not to mention that we don't need any funky bearings and there
	is already vacuum!

	So, say we have a space station that NASA wants to build. During
	the time that it is exposed to sunligh (or magnetic field or
	whatever) motors are spinning up the flywheel which can then
	supply power to the station either when main power fails or
	simply as the MAIN power source.

	I'm sure this beats having a breeder/fusion/fuelcell in the
	vicinity of the station.

	Hope this stirrs some discussion as it seems to me to be a very
	possible (or more sane) application of this wonderful and 
	efficient storage medium.

	Take care.
-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DO NOT REPLY HERE. REPLY TO "fmgst+@pitt.edu". THANK YOU. If that doesn't work,
send that e-mail to "fmg@alpha.smi.med.pitt.edu". Proud co-owner of a Jeanie's
Teenie serial# 1: all-Al, 285lb, low-wing, 53 hp, 120 knts, experimental plane!!
Technical Details
Message-ID: <1337@blue.cis.pitt.edu>
Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!sparky!uunet!paladin.american.edu!gatech!pitt.edu!karol

Show Full Headers
Complete Article Headers
Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!sparky!uunet!paladin.american.edu!gatech!pitt.edu!karol
From: karol+@pitt.edu (Filip M. Gieszczykiewicz (fmgst+@pitt.edu))
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Flywheels and Space Stations
Summary: ideal power source/battery
Keywords: I hope this is original ;-)
Message-ID: <1337@blue.cis.pitt.edu>
Date: 3 Jan 93 15:56:37 GMT
Sender: news+@pitt.edu
Followup-To: sci.electronics
Organization: University of Pittsburgh
Lines: 39