Editor’s Note

Dear Friend,

Happy New Year and welcome to the December 2016 Newsletter! Here you will find current technical content from our engineers and new opportunities to get involved. Heading into 2017, we are excited to announce ISEC appearances and presentations at upcoming international space conferences and events. As always, thank you for reading!

John Knapman and Peter Robinson of the ISEC Research Team will be presenting at the British Interplanetary Society's Future Histories symposium on January 25th.  

Space Elevators will be a topic at the National Space Society's International Space Development Conference in May. Dr. Peter Swan will be presenting generally on the Space Elevator concept and recent ISEC developments.

The call for papers for the 2017 International Astronautical Congress  is still open and ISEC leadership will be guiding the Space Elevator focused sessions of the conference in October.

If you missed the news last month, our pilot internship program last Summer was a success and we are now offering opportunities for Summer 2017. More specifically, we are offering two paid positions this summer for college Freshman or Sophomores in an Aerospace field. Please stay tuned to ISEC.org as applications will be coming online shortly!

On the systems engineering side of SE design, Vern Hall presents an overview of location considerations for the Earth Port and our Architecture Chair, Micheal Fitzgerald, continues his series on SE Architecture with thoughts on the establishment of an SE "Baseline". The December Newsletter is rounded out with a piece by Dr. Swan focusing on how the SE fits with National Space Policy. Don't miss it!

All ISEC reports are available FOR FREE in electronic (pdf) format at ISEC.org.

If you want to help us make a space elevator happen, JOIN ISEC and get involved! A space elevator would truly revolutionize life on earth and open up the solar system and beyond to all of us.

Please don’t forget to LIKE US on Facebook, FOLLOW US on Twitter, and enjoy the photos and videos that we’ve posted on Flickr and YouTube, all under our Social Identity of ISECdotORG.

Thank you,

Sandy Curth
ISEC Publicity Director

President's Corner 

Space Infrastructure

The wonders of the holiday season. We, at ISEC, hope that you are going to celebrate with your family and friends over the holiday and relax and re-generate your energy levels - oops if there are young ones around, the energy goes away. Ouch.

But seriously, while you are traveling around visiting your friends and family, look outside and see the phenomenal infrastructure that has been provided for your utilization. It really is amazing: Eight lane highways - huge airports for millions of passengers - cruise ships holding over 5,000 people - thousands of rest stops, hamburger joints, pharmacies, hospitals, movie theaters, and the ever present gas stations. It is amazing what we have built to support humanity and our need to see our family and friends; as well as making a living and growing. It is all called infrastructure. Now look into space and try to identify infrastructure for space flights. We have launch facilities, command and control facilities on the Earth and periodic launch vehicles taking payloads to orbit and beyond. But the only infrastructure for space travel is the space station - stuck in low Earth orbit.

What the ISEC is all about is creating an infrastructure for space lift. We will provide a permanent set of hardware and software that enables continuous movement of payloads from the surface to any location in our solar system. The infrastructure is permanent and reusable. Those two characteristics are the essence of space elevators and their promise to humanity. So, please remember as you are looking out your car at the other 7 lanes of traffic - what you see is the future of mankind's movement off-planet, except that it will be vertical instead of horizontal. Space Elevators will be the Space Access Infrastructure for the future of spaceflight.

Keep Climbing my Friends -- 

Pete Swan

ISEC at the NSS International Space Development Conference

Members of the ISEC leadership team will be in attendance and presenting at the 2017 NSS International Space Development Conference in St. Lewis this year! If you are interested in attending see the information below. This is bound to be a fascinating and exciting event. See you there!

Meet aerospace giants, network with like-minded Space enthusiasts, learn from dozens of break-out sessions, roam a busy and exciting Exhibit Midway, and be inspired by keynote presenters at ISDC® 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri over Memorial Day Weekend.

ISDC 2017

ISDC® 2017: where Space Exploration leaders, pioneers, researchers, scientists, astronomers, innovators, students, and enthusiasts come together...and leave inspired.

The 36th annual International Space Development Conference®, hosted by National Space Society (along with local host St. Louis Space Frontier), seeks to connect knowledge-seekers of all backgrounds in the spirit of Space exploration, development, and discovery. The conference will be held at the historic St. Louis Union Station Hotel, once the largest and busiest passenger rail terminal in the world.

St. Louis first became a city of exploration when it was just a river town on the edge of a vast expanse of unknown wilderness, where Lewis and Clark set out to explore the West. So, it is fitting that St. Louis has played a key role in both aviation and Space history by aiding in designing, engineering, and manufacturing the planes and spaceships that some of the world's greatest explorers have used to travel around the world - and out of it.

ISDC® 2017 will review where we are today in Space exploration and discovery and where we will go tomorrow. We will feature leading scientists, academics, and industry professionals to explain this complex, evolving field to Space enthusiasts and students.

To plan your ISDC® 2017 experience: Thursday will be tours of the city (with a Space focus, of course) and an opening event featuring Fight for Space, a documentary about the importance of Space Exploration. The tours will be an additional cost because of transportation, but we are working to keep costs low. The conference will run Friday morning through Memorial Day (Monday) at 2pm. Each day will kick off with a keynote presenter, multiple break-out sessions will run concurrently, formal lunch and dinner will feature well-known Space Pioneers, and an after-dinner social features late-night fun. The ISDC® lunches and dinners are at an extra cost but we will have theater-style seats available for the presentations so everyone can participate. Learn more about ISDC 2017 on our website and about St. Louis at ExploreStLouis.com. Early bird rates will inch up in January, so please visit the  ISDC® 2017 website and register now! Also, please consider registering for your hotel room now because St. Louis Union Station is a popular venue. (The double queen rooms are $135 a night.) St. Louis is easily accessible by car, train, or plane. Meet me in St. Louis!

ISEC History Committee

Happy holidays from the ISEC History committee! All of us here want to thank all of you for reading and supporting our newsletter and our efforts here. Your contributions have been much appreciated! We hope 2017 will be a year to remember for us all and that it finds you in good health and good spirits.

May your experiences lift you beyond the space elevator concept, so it becomes a reality!

Warm smiles,

Paula Smith
ISEC History Committee Chair

IAC in Adelaide with Space Elevator Sessions

Since 2004, the ISEC leadership has contributed and lead the space elevator sessions at the International Astronautical Congresses around the world. The next call for papers [2017 October, in Adelaide, Australia] has been released. If you are interested, please submit an abstract prior to 28 Feb 2-17. The general topics are:

  • Science and Exploration, Space Life Sciences, Microgravity, Space Exploration, Space Debris, Space Astronomy

  • Applications and Operations, Earth observation, Space communication and navigation, Small Satellites, Integrated Applications

  • Technology, Astrodynamics, Materials and Structures, Space Power, Space Propulsion

  • Infrastructure, Space Systems, Space Transportation, Knowledge Management, Commercial Spaceflight Safety

  • Space and Society, Space Education and Outreach, History of Astronautics, Business Innovation, Space Law

With our special session: D4.3, Conceptualizing Space Elevators and Tethered Satellites - "The development of a system concept for space elevators [and tethered satellites] requires systems engineering and architecture approaches. IAA study (3-24) entitled "Road to Space Elevator Era" is pulling together initial steps for a new look at space elevators. This study will show how to approach mega-projects with engineering discipline leading to the initial phase of a program - Concept Development. The members of the study are all focusing on the early engineering and operational steps towards an operational capability, such as defining the missions and laying out the top-level requirements. This session will suggest strategies to illustrate the space elevator development leading to a phenomenal low cost to space infrastructure. In addition, the session can accept the strategies to leverage space tethers as a viable tool for space systems."

Space Elevator Research Published in JBIS
 

JBIS issue on space elevators

ISEC research can now be found in the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society. If you have not yet read these important and contemporary technical reports on Space Elevator research, head to the JBIS website for a copy. 

This summer issue of the JBIS covers both the forefront of ISEC developments and work being done in Japan by member of the Japanese Space Elevator Association (JSEA). Our ongoing collaboration continues to produce valuable research for Space Elevator development and fosters the sort of international collaboration essential for the success of such an expansive and important project.

Architecture Note #4 - Baseline

Personal Prologue 

This is an Architecture Note. It is the opinion of ISEC's Chief Architect. It represents an effort to document ISEC's ongoing science and engineering discussions, and is one of many to be published over time. Most importantly, it is a sincere effort to be the diary, or the chronicle, of the multitude of our technical considerations as we progress; along the pathway developing the Space Elevator.

Michael A. Fitzgerald

We need a Baseline.

The Baseline of the Space Elevator is still changing and that is a good thing;
but only for now.

Space Elevator baseline - We don't have one and we might need two

I have pondered this subject a bit ... and my rule of life is rule #36 - "There is always a baseline; though you may have to look for it." In other words, we are ok now, but we really should specify what is needed for a solid space transportation system. In systems engineering talk that specification process is called baselining. It is an assessed agreement of defining what is part of the Space Elevator transportation system, and also what is not part of that transportation system. The delineation of one versus the other is important. It also looks like we need two baselines. One baseline is the Space Elevator transportation system and the other baseline is the Space Elevator Enterprise. Like the rule #36 says - we should look for it now; twice.

Space Elevator Transportation system - Baseline #1

The Space Elevator Transportation system is the core of our vision. The transportation system will provide affordable and reliable access to space. Currently, we see the transportation system made of five segments. The Apex Anchor, The Climber, The Tether, The Earth Port, and the Headquarters / Principle Operating Center (HQ/POC). Each of these five pieces needs to be described in explicit and finite terms with ascribed performance. How strong a Tether, how fast a Climber, how mobile a Earth Port, and how aware a HQ/POC; and more. We should start the baseline documentation process simply; by lifting information from completed documentation we have in hand. From several experiences, I can assure you that baseline building is a hit and miss iterative process; a bootstrap miracle. Baselines are built by trial and error mixed with sweat and tears. We must do it.

Space Elevator Business Enterprise - Baseline #2

The Space Elevator Business Enterprise will be all that we imagine it to be. If asked, my position would be to start now examining how extensions can be added to the transportation baseline. We need to see the Enterprise in the near term (as in, soon after IOC) and in the longer term. As I suggested in Arch Note #1, the enterprise will come in modular steps. I think if we reach out to our customers and clients and ask them what they might need ... we will get astute responses. They will offer their version of which steps to take, which modules to do next. They can tell us what they would expect and need when we deliver their product or service to space. Remember, these customers, clients, and entrepreneurial investors have visions today of what sort of businesses they would like to conduct on orbit.

Space Elevator Business Enterprise - Baseline relationships

This last sentence in the paragraph above is important to understand. The Space Elevator Business Enterprise will be all that our customers, clients, and investors imagine it to be. I think we should start examining, bit by bit, the various "Arts of the possible and profitable" with these new partners. These new partners may be the ones we know now; Boeing, Lockheed, Orbital ATK; the biggies. I also think there will be smaller outfits; perhaps specialized spinoffs. They will see refueling, repair, or situational awareness as some of several niche businesses to operate the Enterprise profitably. They will see much more than we see.

You see, we might be our own smart investor and a good strategic partner with our customers and clients; large and small.

In closing

Given all that...the rule that applies is rule #42 - "Dreams and visions tell us where we are going; education tells us where we are; hard work is the road between." We need to work hard on the baselines. Happy New Year!!           

Fitzer

Earth Port Update #4 - Location Considerations

Image adapted from Figure 4.1, ISEC Position Paper #2015-1 "Design Characteristics of a Space Elevator Earth Port"

At the 2016 Space Elevator Conference, I led a discussion on "Earth Port Location Considerations". We considered several other factors that may be involved in locating the initial Earth Port beyond those of proximity to the Equator and benign weather conditions. This report is more of a recap and continuation of that discussion rather than an update.

At the Conference and in Earth Port Update #2 (October 2016) I expanded on the concept that the Space Elevator will add a third dimension to the well-established Global logistics chain. Focusing on the shaded area of the image above, we see that the Marine Node (Earth Port) Access City is an essential link in this chain. I believe that the distance and, therefore, travel time between the Earth Port Access City and the Floating Operations Platform or Earth Port's island base facility will be an important factor in the ultimate Earth Port location determination. For business and logistical reasons, the Earth Port Access City may also be the site for the HQ/POC.

As indicated on the chart above, materials, supplies, personnel and other Space Elevator payloads can literally have an origin or destination anywhere on the globe. By airplane, train or truck, these payloads can certainly make their way to regional city that has an international airport and/or commercial (deep-water) harbor. To assure the desired safe, reliable and routine nature of the Earth Port's transportation system, the Earth Port Access City should have regularly scheduled international airlines arrivals/departures and port facilities for scheduled ocean-going (containerized) cargo ships or ocean liner service. Focusing on the outbound or spaceward payloads, once they arrive at the Access City, there should be established ground transportation, warehousing and processing facilities in the local area. These will allow the payloads to be transshipped to the Earth Port via high speed ferry, ocean-going tug/barges, general cargo ships and/or long-range seaplanes. In other words, the "ideal" Access City should be a one that is considered a major city in its country or region.

Although subject to much further study and deliberations, the distance from such transshipment facilities to the receiving facilities at the Earth Port should be in the order of magnitude of 1,000 to 1,500 nautical miles. This distance is based on travel time, range and, to a degree, the security of moving cargo and personnel by high speed ferry (not more than 24 hours) or seaplane (3-4 hours.) Another factor to consider is the long-term political stability of the nation in which the Access City is located. There will be much more to discuss on this latter criteria.

If the base of operations for the Earth Port is located on an equatorial island of sufficient size to support a runway for conventional cargo planes, the distance "equation" between the Access City and the Earth Port may change since most supplies, personnel and payload can be moved by this means rather than ferries, barges and seaplanes. A further discussion of this island base concept may be found in Appendix F of the 2015 ISEC Position Paper.

Other factors in locating the Earth Port Access City were discussed during the presentation/workshop at the 2016 Conference included: Law of the Sea considerations; impacts on operational downtime from less than ideal weather and sea conditions; environmental impacts of developing and operating the Earth Port facilities and availability of appropriate mitigations; need for Earth Port mobility due to tether dynamics and force determinations, and availability of space "above" the Earth Port at GEO. Future updates will focus on these factors. There will be much on the GEO region requirements in the 2016 Position Paper.

Vern Hall,  
Earth Port Harbor Master

Why?              

Because we fit within a proposed National Space Policy

A National Space Policy has recently been proposed to help the new administration transition towards the future. While neither endorsing, nor agreeing with this proposed policy, I believe the discussions from this proposed National Space Policy can put space elevators more towards the front of mainline discussions. As such, I have quoted the most relevant portions of the discussions. As you read this, think "how can the space elevator enter into the discussions?"

From: A national space policy for this century by US Air Force Lt. Col. Peter Garretson; Maj. Brent Ziarnick, Ph.D.; Dr. M.V. "Coyote" Smith, Col., USAF (Ret); and Dr. Everett Dolman Monday, November 7, 2016

The United States is committed to opening the vast frontier of space to broader societal and commercial activity for both our nation and the world. Space development is our number one goal. We will give preference to science and technology efforts that expand the possibilities: of incorporating the solar system into the human economic sphere; of opening the space domain to human presence and settlement; to better the chances of human survival and the survival of life; and to using space resources for the dramatic betterment of human society and the protection of Earth's biosphere.

A National Space Policy should lead to:

  • A Domain of Vast Opportunity

  • Safety and Prosperity for All Mankind: Securing the Blessings of Liberty and Prosperity

  • Assuring Access and Commerce in the Space Domain

  • Ensuring Freedom of Navigation and Protecting the Space Environment

  • Reaching Higher and Farther

  • STEM Powered

  • Promotion of US Industry and Market Share

Where the United States Will Lead in Space

  • The United States seeks to be the first nation to mine an asteroid.

  • The United States seeks to be the first nation to mine propellant and materials from our Moon and to operate a commercial transportation service to-and-from the lunar surface.

  • The United States seeks to be the first nation to operate a propellant depot and on-orbit refueling service.

  • The United States seeks to be the first nation to operate a private space station.

  • The United States seeks to be the first nation to operate a commercial Earth-to-orbit spaceline of fully-reusable launch vehicles.

  • The United States seeks to be the first nation, or to lead a coalition of nations, to build a prototype solar power satellite.

  • The United States seeks to be the first nation to establish a hazardous asteroid early warning system and demonstrate an asteroid deflection capability.

Remember, it is our business to think BIG and lead others towards our future in space. The words above can help formulate our approaches and support our future.

Dr. Peter Swan  
President - ISEC

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