SpaceElevatorDeployment

The Deployment

Deploying the ribbon takes innovation and care. The ribbon can not be simply thrown up into space neither can it be blindly dropped down from orbit. The deployment spacecraft is to deliver the first ribbon then climbers will build up and strengthen the ribbon to the point where it is usable.

	Value	Units
Spacecraft Mass	80	tons
Mass of first ribbon	40	meters
Fisrt climber size	1	ton
Spacecraft propoulsion	MPD
Power source	MW of beamed power
Deployment time for first ribbon	2	weeks

The working climber design is File:DeploySpacecraft.aoi. Notes on the design are located File:DeploySpacecraftnotes.odt here.

Status

Large Spacecraft have been built and operated Need additional work on launching first ribbonInclude images and videos Include design write-ups

The deployment spacecraft should be largely built with conventional satellite technology.

Work Needed

Item	Notes
Overall system engineering	Overall satellite constraints and components need to be defined along with the trade-offs for overall performance and subcomponents
Categorize available electromagnetic propulsion systems of the size required	Define, performance, mass, maturity, cost,
Examine large scale ribbon spooling techniques
Ribbon deployment	dynamics, speed, matching tension in multiple ribons, attaching ribbons end-to-end.
Overall structure design	Minimize mass, design to handle oscillations, operation in unidirectional gravity field (0 - 0.1G)
Retrieving the end of the ribbon at Earth	General scenario, issues, end unit design, performance requirements
Operations	Work out a detailed operational scenario including fault handling, despooling and speed control

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