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Human habitation of other planets requires both cost-effective transportation and low time-of-flight for human passengers and critical supplies. The current methods for interplanetary orbital transfers, such as the Hohmann transfer, require either expensive, high fuel maneuvers or extended space travel. However, by utilizing the high velocities of a super-geosynchronous space

Human habitation of other planets requires both cost-effective transportation and low time-of-flight for human passengers and critical supplies. The current methods for interplanetary orbital transfers, such as the Hohmann transfer, require either expensive, high fuel maneuvers or extended space travel. However, by utilizing the high velocities of a super-geosynchronous space elevator, spacecraft released from an apex anchor could achieve interplanetary transfers with minimal Delta V fuel and time of flight requirements. By using Lambert’s Problem and Free Release propagation to determine the minimal fuel transfer from a terrestrial space elevator to Mars under a variety of initial conditions and time-of-flight constraints, this paper demonstrates that the use of a space elevator release can address both needs by dramatically reducing the time-of-flight and the fuel budget.
ContributorsTorla, James (Author) / Peet, Matthew (Thesis director) / Swan, Peter (Committee member) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description

The potential threat of Near Earth Objects (NEOs) and the need for effective planetary defense strategies has become increasingly urgent. While a range of mitigation techniques exist, the development of a space elevator could provide significant advantages in planetary defense. The current mitigation strategies require the use of a rocket

The potential threat of Near Earth Objects (NEOs) and the need for effective planetary defense strategies has become increasingly urgent. While a range of mitigation techniques exist, the development of a space elevator could provide significant advantages in planetary defense. The current mitigation strategies require the use of a rocket in order to intercept the NEOs, and therefore launch lighter interceptors at lower velocities. However, the implementation of a space elevator would allow releasing heavier interceptors at much higher velocities. These capabilities combined with faster response times, make space elevators a much more efficient response to planetary defense. By using computational simulations on MATLAB to calculate intercept trajectories and model the new orbit of the NEOs after impact, this paper demonstrates that the use of space elevators can significantly improve the current strategies for planetary defense.

ContributorsMariana Descamps, Oriol (Author) / Peet, Matthew (Thesis director) / Swan, Pete (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2023-05