🚀 go-pugleaf

The attempt by the most recent astronauts to deploy a 12-mile
one-wire generator using the half-gauss earth's magnetic field
caused me to ask some questions of myself to which I have no
sure answers, but hope that some of you do.
 
My first problem was where to put the voltmeter.  I surmise that
the cable has to be coaxial, and the voltmeter can be mounted at
either end.  Depending on the choice, care must be taken as to
which vessel which conductor is attached.
 
Now suppose that the satellite is deployed, the tether is moving
through the earth's magnetic field and a healthy voltage is being
generated.  What happens when you put a load on it, and current
flows in the tether?  The laws of electromagnetics predict a force
against the tether normal to a line between the satellite and
the spacecraft.  If the tether is elastic, and the force is uniform
along its length, one would expect the tether to establish a
catenary curve like that taken by the main cables of suspension
bridges.  If the tether is rigid, the force against the tether would
be translated into a force tending to pull the satellite and the
spacecraft together, with the satellite being acellerated more,
becuase its mass is so much less.  As soon as this acelleration begins,
however, the tether tends to slacken, and will itself be 
acellerated in the direction of the force.  This will cause the
tether to bow.  Now the translated force is at a slight angle to the
line between satellite and spacecraft, producing a component of force
anti the direction of flight.  As the satellite closes upon the
spacecraft, this angle will increase, moving the satellite ever more
rapidly rearward in respect to the spacecraft.
 
In the end, I can see the tether trailing out behind, feeling 
nothing, doing nothing, and generating nothing.  I suppose you 
could then reel it in, shoot it out again and do it all again.
In reeling it in, the spacecraft will be slowed and lose some
altitude, but that's what rockets are for..  
 
With no aerodynamic damping, I would suspect a good bit of
thrashing around behind the spacecraft, and a good bit of stress
on the tether.
 
By the way, why was the thing parked up on top of a tower at
the beginning?
 
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