Space Hook WIP-1 by pauljs75
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
This is a model of the Space Hook elevator vehicle. On top is the climber tractor assembly. Below that is the pressure vessel which is the operations crew living quarters and passenger ferry. On the bottom (not modeled yet) are the emergency escape pods. Hanging below (this part is not modeled yet) are a multi-tiered system of gantrys which are balanced by outlying balast tanks. The big elongated cube visible near the bottom is a reference for a 40'x9'5"x8' shipping container. Another part essential to function, but not visible (nor modeled) is a gyroscopic stabilization system.
Idea of operation... The elevator base station is a large derrick platform located in calm seas near shipping lanes. This way the suspended gantry system can grapple standard containers from ships moored below. The tow vehicle then hauls cargo to and from space in about a week. Upon reaching the geostationary orbital station, loading and unloading is more straight forward as "space tugs" directly manuever cargo in the zero-G environment. The cargo itself can then be directly hauled to orbital stations or loaded and locked onto specialized tow rockets known as space trains for interplanetary delivery.
Comments (3)
VERY nice :)
I've read about these things. Seems we're only a few years from having the technology to pull it off. But I have to wonder, what are the railings on the deck for?
So the guys servicing it don't fall off. Well at least while the thing is under the influence of earth's gravity. Of course they'll still have tethers and space suits to do servicing under low/no pressure and zero-g (nano-cable maintenance and emergency work to the elevator unit.) Most maintenance will be done when docked at the earth base station.