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Using Sling Shot Power to Hurl Into Orbit
the_2nd_coming writes "space.com has an article
about a new application of a very old technology.
NASA is putting money into Momentum-eXchange/Electrodynamic Reboost tether technology -- MXER for short -- an innovative concept that if implemented would station miles and miles of cart-wheeling cable in orbit around the Earth. Then, rotating like a giant sling, the cable would swoop down and pick up spacecraft in low orbits, then hurl them to higher orbits or even lob them onward to other planets."
The key scientists behind this project are Dr. Bartholemew J. Simpson and Dr. Dennis "The Menace" Mitchell.
Mike
Dennis the Mennis apparently grew up and got a job at NASA!
Swoop down and clobber spacecraft in lower orbits, smashing them into tiny pieces that could go one to clobber other spacecraft. Or perhaps larger pieces that re enter in fiery displays of wasted millions.
Or it might work. That'd be something.
I once used sling shot power to hurl little rocks at my neighbor's cat. Used the middle finger from a rubber kitchen glove, a cut-apart 2-liter soda bottle, and a pipe clamp.
If they built one of those in space, they'd be able to scare the shit out of my neighbor's cat.
- A.P.
"Remember when the U.S. had a drug problem, and then we declared a War On Drugs, and now you can't buy drugs anymore?"
Alien species put up huge fences to keep us outside of their garden, and now we're going to be shooting stuff at them...
[Dennis the Menace]
Hey Mr. Freeeblgwaaxx!1
[/Dennis]
Black and grey are both shades of white.
"the ultimate dos-Ã-dos swing machine."
I know the caption says it uses old technology- but I'm not trusting my space flight to something that runs on DOS.
It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
"It's sort-of like a one-hundred kilometer long fish-net stocking in space, only it's incredibly strong, and it can withstand many years of bombardment by orbital debris," Hoyt said
Say, if they make these smaller, maybe I won't have to keep buying pantyhose for my girlfriend!
This is the real signature
(Beats those shadows on the cave wall, don't it?)
I don't think I would enjoy getting smacked upside the spacecraft by a cable going 25,000 MPH faster than me.
Can anyone say whiplash?
When probes from outer space attack the earth, we can use the slingshot to go back in time to retrieve the exact species of whale they're trying to contact!
Slingshots never worked out very well for the Coyote. Doesn't anyone pay attention to the great value of cartoons? Sheesh... how many boulders must fall on the heads of coyotes before someone gets it?
On the other hand, rockets never worked for the Coyote either... maybe NASA is on to something! Is it possible... could cartoons be... unrealistic? Noooooo!
Gives new meaning to "Projectile Vomiting".
Heh. Alright, I'll go away now.
IAALS.
Chill out man, I'm just trying to make some karma same as everybody else.
This thing doesn't happen to say 'ACME' on the side, does it?
Don't these guys know anything about thermodynamics?!
By launching a ship in this fashion, they will be STEALING momentum from the earth's rotation, degrading the planet's equilibrium and ultimately destroying the orbit and sending us to a firey death in the sun!
This is obviously a "plan B" coming from those same wackos who want to send the moon crashing into earth by harnessing the energy in the tides.
Swing low, sweet NASA slingshot,
Comin' for to launch me to Mars;
Swing low, sweet NASA slingshot,
Comin' for to launch me to Mars.
I looked over low orbit,
And WHAT did I see,
Comin' for to launch me to Mars,
A band of "Hoytether" comin' after me,
Comin' for to launch me to Mars.
Swing low, sweet NASA slingshot,
Comin' for to launch me to Mars;
Swing low, sweet NASA slingshot,
Comin' for to launch me to Mars.
If you get there before I do,
Comin' for to launch me to Mars,
Tell all my friends I'm being slung too,
Comin' for to launch me to Mars.
There's no wrong way, to eat a Rhesus...