Launcher Transport Head (LTH)

- © Frank Ellinghaus -

I N D E X - G E R M A N

POST & AUTHOR & Vision
STS - Solar Thruster Sailor
RSS - Ring Segment System LTH - Launcher Transport Head EFO - Experimental Flying Object RSC - Rotational Slingshot Catapult
L I N K S ENGLISH

How do we get those giant ring structures into space?

The Answer: We segment it into many hundred pieces and use a head for the launcher tip similar to the ASAP ring for the Ariane V rocket which makes it possible to transport the RSS-pipes (the ring segments of the Solar Thruster Sailor are also made from pipes) Outside of the Launcher - were they are needed when mounted.

Astronauts and Robots like the Robonaut a NASA development would have to stick the segments together in space.

Fig. 4.a, Fig. 4.b, Fig. 4.c - Launcher Transport Head (LTH)

Fig. 4.c

Launcher Transport Head (LTH)
pipes transported outside of the launcher

Fig. 4.a

one layer LTH from above

Fig. 4.b

multiple layer LTH from above

Fig4c Fig4a

If the upper stage of the launcher has a diameter of 4 m and the pipe segments a diameter of about 6 cm, it is possible to transport up to 200 pipes. Given a length of about 15 m per segment youŽll get a perimeter of 3000 m from one layer. The compressed mass volume of this layer is about 0,6 cubicmeter of lightweight material. Not a weight to worry about for a big solar sailor-structure.

Fig4b

A multilayer LTH could transport pipes for very large ring structures.

LTH - German Page

I N D E X - G E R M A N

POST & AUTHOR & Vision
STS - Solar Thruster Sailor
RSS - Ring Segment System LTH - Launcher Transport Head EFO - Experimental Flying Object RSC - Rotational Slingshot Catapult
L I N K S ENGLISH