I'm thinking of revamping my Endercon presentation into something approaching "real science," and making a presentation at the conference.
Well, submitting an abstract for consideration, at least.
I'd rather have people I know laugh in my face, than be laughed at by total strangers, so I raise this question here:
Is this just stupid, or what. I think it might fall high on the "wow, that's cool" scale, but I also think it might fall under the header of "what a fool" and/or "what was he thinking?"
Now, mind you, I have spent about 7 years in the space business. Just not the last seven years.
posted
You published an article in "Hydraulics and Pneumatics"! That's so cool! I love that magazine!
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We're not related, are we? There are certain similarities between our names...
I hope that you have some more favorite magazines than Hydraulics & Pnuematics! Talk about dry air!
Unfortunately, the article's so old that there are no more links to it on the net
...wait, you're not kidding about the magazine, are you?
Well, either way, the article was about my work on the T2/3D show for Universal Studios, Florida.
A question, for those of you who saw the presentation...I'm trying to think of a title for the paper. It's going to have no references to EG, of course.
So far, what I've got is: "A novel approach to intra-station transit between large centrifugal habitation wheels and stationary untility cores."
posted
And here's my abstract. Is it a load of hooey, or what:
quote:In previous studies of centripetally induced artificial gravity, discussions of habitability and livability have usually pointed to the necessity of very large diameter rotating wheels to provide suitable living and working quarters for long-term habitation in space.
One of the important practical issues typically left out of the discussion of large-diameter centripetal wheels is the need for a central, non-rotating hub to facilitate the docking of resupply and crew-exchange vessels at such stations. Popular cinema has given us the image of a large, revolving, wheeled space station with a synchronously revolving hub, and a manned vessel somehow managing to dock with this rotating target. As visually intriguing as this imagery may be, the impracticality of docking to a constantly rotating target will need to be addressed if such large space assets as centripetally driven habitats are ever to be constructed.
The purpose of this presentation is to propose one possible solution to this future problem. The logistics of manning and supplying a large rotating habitat in space preclude the use of a single, central corridor placed at the axis of rotation of such a construct. Additional issues regarding severe gravity gradient effects at such a junction also preclude its use. What will be presented is an approach to “jumping the gap” between the rotating and the non-rotating elements of such a space station, at a distance far enough from the central axis as to be relatively free of the unique rotational problems associated with short-radius transfers.
Preliminary studies of the proposed method of intra-station transit have been modeled using MSC.Visual Nastran 4D, and will be presented at the conference. The overall system approach will be illustrated, as well as specific operating details.
Please feel fre to critique it! Better to be ripped apart by friends than by strangers.
---Steve
PS. Do it now--I have to submit this by TUESDAY!
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posted
Oh, wow, can I have copy of your paper when you're done? This would have been the perfect bridge for some of the things I taught this past year in physics. (We discussed the necessity of spinning space stations to produce gravity; we also discussed the benfit of a rotating train platform with a fixed central platform and staircase.)
I don't know when I will next be teaching physics, but I like having such things tucked away. Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
No, I'm not kidding about H & P magazine. I do love that magazine, as well as Machine Design, which is the flagship publication of Penton, I think. (But my two favorite magazines are Scientific American and Sky and Telescope, since you asked.)
I don't know if we're related but I long since pegged you as a fellow geek, yeah! And there's probably a gene for that so yeah, for sure we're related. I mean probably more closely than any two random human beings are already related by default.
That sounds like an interesting problem, and I'm intrigued as to what the novel solution is. In Ender's game they had generated gravity so I really hope that's what you're going to present as I guarantee it will make quite a splash!
However, if it's just some nice airtight joint or something then I'll still think that's cool and I really want to read the paper about that too!
(If it IS the generated gravity bit, though, please do let us hatracker know first so we can buy the right stocks and make our fortunes, okay?)
[ July 15, 2003, 01:55 AM: Message edited by: ak ]
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Ok, we used Paul Hewitt's Conceptual Physics high school textbook. I am looking at the third edition. Oh, wait! It's not in the textbook. It was in the review guide. I don't have that anymore. Hmm.
I'll have to describe it as best as I can remember. Hewitt diagrammed a train platform that revolved, which allowed the train to slow but not actually stop. When the train and platform had the same relative speed, passengers could get on and off.
In the center of the fairly large, rotating platform, was a much smaller fixed one, with a staircase rising from its center. The questions for the students asked things like why the platform had to be fairly large, what sort of speeds could be involved, etc.
I had actually thought Hewitt's diagram was based on a real system in place somewhere. Always wondered exactly where.
But if I understood correctly, you are talking about a somewhat different environment than your average Earth-bound train station. Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
Here is a good article about that oldest planet that someone was talking about the other day. I happened to see it here and it's clear and complete, and tells you what you wanted to know, like most S&T articles, and unlike almost all general-purpose press coverage of scientific things.
I'm posting it here cause I don't want to have to go find that other thread and the geeks that care will see it here anyway. Posts: 2843 | Registered: A Long Time Ago!
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Are you guys familiar with Robert Zubrin? What do you think of his Mars plans?
I'm really taken with his theories. Plus, I grew up across the street from him and played with his kids. But I'm very naive about the feasibility of astrophysical stuff. I'd be interested to know your thoughts on Mars colonization.
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posted
rivka, they use that same approach at both Universal and Disney on the river raft rides. The rafts float through a half circle with a radius of about 50-60' around a circular platform. The platform rotates at the same speed as the rafts. Riders walk across a bridge to the stationary center of the circle. You then step onto the rotating platform and get seated in the raft you have been directed to. Everyone has time to get seated and buckled in before the raft exits the other side of the half circle and the ride begins.
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Your abstract submission for SPACE 2004 has been received.
Below is a confirmation of your abstract information. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Title: A novel approach to intra-station transfers between large centripetal habitation wheels and stationary untility cores Session Type: Paper Submitted by: Stephen Sywak Topic: Space Engineering and Construction Date Submitted: July 15, 2003 Name of uploaded file: Intra-Station_Transit_Abstract.doc
quote: I had never even heard of Hewitt's "Conceptual Physics" until now.
Well, it's one of the most popular introductory college textbooks (in its ninth edition), and rapidly becoming one of the most popular HS textbooks (3rd edition). It is marvelously written! Few textbooks so well combine scientific concepts, humor, and wonderful pictures, drawings, and cartoons.
Thanks, zgator, I know. I live not far from both the parks you mentioned. As I recall, we discussed them in class when we reviewed the assignment. I meant a "real" train. Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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It is our great pleasure to inform you that your above abstract submitted to the 9th ASCE Aerospace Division International Conference on Engineering, Construction and Operations in Challenging Environments (Earth and Space 2004) to be held in League City/Houston, TX, U.S.A. during March 07-10, 2004 has been accepted. Please note that to give room for others to present, to ensure greater number of in-person participations, and to enhance the diversity in presentation, it is asked that one author make not more than one presentation at the conference.
posted
In Steve's honor, I'm going to name a space station in a short story I'm writing "the Sywak Center." Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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posted
ssywak-- Wow. I wish I had found this thread the other day!
quote: The purpose of this presentation is to propose one possible solution to this future problem.
I am very (no, let me italicize that) very interested in your possible solution. My current series of short stories deal with spaceflight towards the end of this century, and that particular problem has been a sticking point with me.
posted
Thanks, Tom. Just make sure you spell it right. And I'll understand if none of your characters can either spell it or pronounce it correctly (I wouldn't have it any other way).
And thanks to everyone for their support. I may ask you all to proof-read it at some point!
posted
Wow...more famous people on the board! I think that acceptance letter wins the prize for "longest bunch of garbage to read before you finally figure out if you're accepted." heehee. That's amazing, I'm looking forward to hearing how it goes. Posts: 6415 | Registered: Jul 2000
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posted
Wow, Steve! Double wow! That is just so fantastically cool. BTW, since it was an abstract it is only about 500 words long, isn't it? Could you post it here? Or email it to me.
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