The tether approach is designing even more failure modes into a system where a lot of stuff is already going to go wrong. Virtually every long term space mission (and most short term ones) have stuff break. That's the nature of space operations. Good engineers work hard to make sure that the stuff that breaks won't result in mission failure. Sometimes, they overlook stuff (like o-rings and shedding foam).
Tethers can be built and tested in Earth orbit (their track record leaves a lot to be desired at the moment). Even so, there needs to be a lot of consideration to whether the benefits outweigh the risks. If a lighter, simplier design could get the crew there faster, then the risk:benefit ratio might not be worth it. The small diameter centrifuges that NASA is testing on the ground might be a better, simplier, less risky, and less costly solution. It, too, should be tested in orbit.
Space/Science » in reply to And Why Couldn't That Be Used To Test Artificial Gravity Concepts?
Testing in Earth orbit is a good idea
The whole thread (41 posts)
- Probable delay in next shuttle launch
- Strike One...
- NASA maybe screwed
- THIS will be the Shuttle's last hurray!
- Be careful what you wish for
- Those guys have already lost the battle
- This stuff is hard to do
- Plus, people forget how long it took to develop Apollo
- Waste Anything but Time
- There was about a 5 year percolation period before Kennedy's speech
- Plus, people forget how long it took to develop Apollo
- This stuff is hard to do
- Those guys have already lost the battle
- Be careful what you wish for
- No shuttle flights until foam loss is understood
- re: Probable delay in next shuttle launch
- Strike One...