A Thought Experiment: BEAM ME UP

Leverage G-force concepts from the Interplanetary Volume to modify current concept of space elevator.

*********CONTENTS*********

BACKGROUND. Current Concept of Space Elevator. This table reviews "transport via tether"; how a very long cable can provide vehicle transport from the Earth's surface into space or orbit, without large rockets.
TE Solution. TE proposes alternative non-rocket transport method from the Earth's surface into space. Replace physical tether with virtual cable of ions.

**BACKGROUND: Current Concept of Space Elevator**
This concept proposes vehicle transport from the Earth's surface into space or orbit, without large rockets.
	APEX ANCHOR (previously known as “counterweight”) rotates at GEO orbital velocity to maintain high tension. It will keep the tether taut (much like a tether ball stretching a rope from a pole). Geostationary Equatorial Orbit (GEO) Node processes climbers as they transit GEO. GEO objects circle the globe in exactly one day. Thus, a GEO object can"park" directly over any point of Earth's Equator. Co-located habitat provides comfortable quarters for over 1,000 people. Like other habitats throughout the Solar System, it will simulate Earth's gravity via spin induced centrifugal force and obtain power from solar light reflected via attached mirrors. Tether connects the GEO platform to both top (spaceward) and bottom (Earthward). Earthward tether connects to Marine Anchor on Earth's equator. Spaceward end might extend to 100,000 km from Earth to Apex Anchor. Theoretically possible, but tether seems extremely impractical. Is there something more practical than 100,000 km of carbon based fiber? Current Climber Concept: Use "rollers" to grab ribbon to travel up/down entire length of cable. Planners now assume climber velocity of 200 kph (130 mph) for a 7 day transit time between GEO Node and Marine Anchor. For passengers, this is 7 days of confinement, surviving on sparse supply of oxygen and other consumables, enduring low gravity and high radiation, and risking tether disaster. Perhaps there is a quicker, safer, more comfortable way!!!

**Thought Experiment (TE) Solution**

**Leverage G-force concepts for some useful changes.**
GEO PLATFORM
	A Geostationary Equatorial Orbit (GEO) is a circular geosynchronous orbit in the plane of the Earth's equator approximately 35,786 km above mean sea level. A GEO platform could be available to process climbers for transit between upload and download trips.
NEARBY HABITAT
Adjacent to the platform could be a previously discussed habitat with: living space for over 1,000 people; simulated Earth gravity via centrifugal force from carefully controlled spin about the longitudinal axis; power and light provided from Sol's light reflected via large, co-located mirrors.
CREATE NEW UPLINK
	Use "virtual" cable of ions to replace extremely long, physical cable. Thus, the vulnerable tether and associated problems can go away. Replace the climber with a "beam rider" vehicle to use a high speed, particle beam to go from Earth's surface to the GEO platform. TE assumes collective particle momentum accelerates vehicle at 10% g-force. By midway to GEO node (about 17,900 km), g-force elevator gains velocity of *about 6 km/sec* (=13,422 mph, an enormous speed!!!); thus, elevator must decelerate back to 0 km/sec before it reaches GEO Node. Beam rider can more frequently carry pax/cargo from base station at Earth's Equator to Node at GEO. At 10%G ((0.1 G acceleration) to midway (*17,900 km) and 0.1 G deceleration* from midway (*17,900 km), climber takes about 200 min* to travel the 35,800 km between Earth surface and GEO. NOTE: TE assumes above acceleration and deceleration are due to "net resultant forces" which overcome other relevant forces such as Earth gravity, orbital forces, and perhaps even centrifugal.
STREAM THE BEAM FROM MARINE BASE
Safely nestled among the large vessels which make up Marine Base, a particle accelerator can generate streams of high speed ions to propel Beam Rider between platform at GEO and base station at Earth's equator. Negative electrons lead positive ions upward to beam rider’s ion collectors. TE speculates that properly powered propulsion of g-force elevator can use particle beam to travel: Up to GEO. G-force accelerate rider to about midway; then, decelerate as required. Back to Marine Base. Decelerate beam rider as required for safe return via gravity assist.
RIDE THE BEAM MIDWAY TO GEO
	Much faster beam rider will greatly reduce: travel time, radiation risk, boredom. TE proposes ion beam from base station particle accelerator to accelerate vehicle to midway, about 17,900 km above Earth. To minimize vehicle damage from high speed particles, combine electromagnetic fields with on-board tokamak to store/release plasma as needed.
DECELERATE FROM MIDWAY TO GEO
Tokamak stores protons from Base Station's particle stream which was used to push vehicle up to GEO. From tokamak, protons go to a ring of cyclotrons placed under the outer hull (with nozzles pointing upside) and located as shown. Cyclotrons then emit protons against motion of vehicle to slow it down to zero velocity exactly at GEO. During the 100 mins of deceleration, TE assumes total mass of fuel converted to high speed protons as less than 1% of vehicle mass; TE further assumes high speed particles (perhaps 10% light speed, c) do not damage orbiting structures such as GEO Node and adjacent habitat.