🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <l7ukasINNaem@pollux.usc.edu> srobiner@pollux.usc.edu (Steven Robiner) writes:
>
>Excuse me, but isn't something missing from this "Tethered Satellite"
>experiment?  The shuttle is at one end, and the satellite is at the 
>other, right?  But that's an open circuit, so where's the load
>joining the ends of this 'generator.'?


A resistor of value infinity between the satellite and the shuttle.


>If the tether has a return line for the power, won't Earth's magnetic
>field induce a current in that line too?  If so, then any return
>current would be negated by this induction.  So how's this
>thing supposed to work?

There isn't a return line for "the power".

Seeing as how the entire system is flying through a plasma, and in a good
vacuum, they could just put a hot cathode on one side and spray electrons
off.

But who said they were going to use this as a power source?  A few microamps
from just field emission would confirm all they need to know.


>
>=steve=
>
>Conspiracy Theory:
>------------------
>The whole thing is Top-Secret high-tech fishing trip: just stick
>a satellite out on a long string and see if any 'UFO's bite.  ;)


It's certiany good to have at least one consipiracy theory per governmental
action.



-- 
David Knapp                                      University of Colorado, Boulder
Highly Opinionated, Aging  and                      knapp@spot.colorado.edu
Perpetual Student of Chemistry and Physics.
            Write me for an argument on your favorite subject.