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NASA To 'Lasso' a Comet To Hitchhike Across the Solar System
evilviper writes: Traveling around space can require a lot of fuel, to help fight the fuel bill NASA has a spacecraft concept that would hitch a free ride on one of the many comets and asteroids traveling across our solar system. Comet Hitchhiker, developed at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, would feature a reusable tether system to replace the need for propellant for entering orbit and landing on objects.
The spacecraft would first cast an extendable tether toward the object and attach itself using a harpoon attached to the tether. Next, it would reel out the tether while applying a brake that harvests energy while the spacecraft accelerates. This allows Comet Hitchhiker to accelerate and slowly match the speed of its ride, and keeping that slight tension on the line harvests energy that is stored on-board for later use, reeling itself down to the surface of the comet or asteroid. A comet hitchhiker spacecraft can obtain up to ~10 km/s of delta-V by using a carbon nanotube (CNT) tether, reaching the current orbital distance of Pluto (32.6 AU) in just 5.6 years.
The spacecraft would first cast an extendable tether toward the object and attach itself using a harpoon attached to the tether. Next, it would reel out the tether while applying a brake that harvests energy while the spacecraft accelerates. This allows Comet Hitchhiker to accelerate and slowly match the speed of its ride, and keeping that slight tension on the line harvests energy that is stored on-board for later use, reeling itself down to the surface of the comet or asteroid. A comet hitchhiker spacecraft can obtain up to ~10 km/s of delta-V by using a carbon nanotube (CNT) tether, reaching the current orbital distance of Pluto (32.6 AU) in just 5.6 years.
When a journalist asked which towel size would be used, NASA was not available for comment.
I am going to suggest you try that with braided line and not mono-filament. You're going to actually want to tighten up your drag too, assuming you're spin casting. This is most certainly not a good idea for those who fly cast for the fish I am usually after.
For a stupid ass animal that is a fish, they're sure tough to please sometimes. I expect a train to be a bit easier to hook but you're going to have an 'interesting' time reeling it in.
"So long and thanks for all the fish."
So that makes sense, except I'm not sure about the ~10 km/s delta-V. Isn't that almost literally the same thing as getting in your car, shooting a lasso out of a gun in the path of a gigantic mountain passing by ten times faster than a bullet, and shouting "Hey... watch this!"?
All my liberal friends think I'm a conservative, all my conservative friends think I'm a liberal.
*furiously makes addition to bucket list*