Human Achievements Human Achievements Cave man discovers fire

◦Long time agoFirst automobile

◦Late 1800’sFirst Flight

◦1903Broke the sound barrier

◦1947

Space TravelSpace TravelFirst went into space – 1957

◦SputnikMan on the Moon – 1969

◦Saturn V 1967-1975Space Shuttle

Space Shuttle◦First Reusable launch vehicle◦$450 Million per mission launch

$22,000 per kg

Possible SolutionsPossible SolutionsRail gunsNew Shuttle

◦OrionRocket Plane

◦Spaceship OnePermanent blimp

◦Horizontal ascender Space PierSpace Elevator

SPACE ELEVATORSPACE ELEVATOREstimated Costs

◦$1.48 per kgTechnology already exists

◦Ground Station◦Tether◦Space Station◦Beam Source◦Climber

Elevator ComponentsElevator Components

Ground Station

Tether

Space StationClimber

Beam Source

Ground StationGround StationMobile

◦Similar to oil platformLocation?

◦Off the coast of South America/Mexico

◦EquatorFunction as an anchor for the

tether

TetherTetherCarbon Nanotubes

◦Has 26,000 ksi tensile strength ◦Steel – 798 ksi

Space StationSpace StationLarge Mass

◦Geosynchronous orbit◦Start small and send stuff up

Increasing mass

Beam SourceBeam SourceLaser

◦BIG To be determined by mass of climber

◦Types Chemical Solid state Gas Dye Semi-conductor

ClimberClimber100 mphCarry heavy payloads

◦Cheap $1.48 per kg

Potential ProblemsPotential ProblemsCable StrengthSpace junkMeteors Failure CascadeCorrosionMaterial DefectsWeatherVibrational harmonicsVan Allen belts (radiation exposure)

Space Elevator Movie

2008 Competition2008 CompetitionPower beaming options

• Laser

Ascent/tether height• 1000 m

Tether geometry• 3/16” round cable

Average ascent velocity• ≥ 5 m/s

What are we doing?What are we doing?

Ground Station ComponentsClimbing Mechanism

Laser ControlLaser Control

• All teams will use the TrumpF TruDisk 8002 High Powered Laser for Transmission

• Track length is 1 km

• Everything else; TBD

1.(Stage 1) Design a receiving unit enables basic feedback of laser pointer location

Tracking SystemTracking System

2. (Stage 2) Transmit display data wirelessly to remote PC

3. (Stage 3) Mount laser to a 2-axis gimbal assembly; Use real time data acquired by a PC to track receiving unit and correct for azimuth and pitch

PrototypePrototype• Parts

• Photo-transistors• CPLD• Laser • Components – IC’s, resistors, caps, LED’s, etc.

• Circuits (bread board)• Analog-Digital• Proto-board Layout

Mechanical ClimberMechanical ClimberSimple and adaptable

◦For competition changesRoller mechanism to climb cableHope to show it off at expo

Future Senior Design Future Senior Design TeamsTeamsPower Converting/ReceivingLaser/optical control

◦Programming of LaserPhotovoltaic Supporting Structure

QUESTIONS???