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To: Professional Engineer
It was a pretty problem.

I knew we needed three Habitats, of approximately equal mass, in order to have dynamic stability once in space.

I didn't want to break up the Castle Habitat, so that meant we needed to add two external Habs. The other problem was: How do you launch into space without at some point undergoing zero gee? (All of the engineeering systems of the Castle, including the moat and the toilets, were designed for a gravitational field.)

My answer was to build a Thrust Ring, and attach all Habs to it. The thrusters would be attached to the Thrust Ring, principally, and the Habs would be attached to it during launch, and would slowly deploy to a spinning bola configuration before the thrust ended.

This adjustment during the launch profile necessitated also going from a bi-lateral symmetry, with the Flying Castle centrally positioned, and the additional Habs at each side, -- to a three-way rotating balance during free fall.

Once in orbit, the Flying Castle Hab swings out, and the two others detach and swing and rotate out to a three way stability. After the spin-up to artificial gravity, the thrust is diminished and shut off.

During the whole launch process, at no time is there anything less than .34 gees of acceleration, though it does max out at about 2.5 to 3 or 4.
1,145 posted on 01/07/2007 3:32:44 PM PST by NicknamedBob (My tuner doesn't have good taste the way it used to!)
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To: NicknamedBob
During the whole launch process, at no time is there anything less than .34 gees of acceleration, though it does max out at about 2.5 to 3 or 4.

Holy underwire Batman.

1,153 posted on 01/07/2007 4:16:31 PM PST by Professional Engineer (When did my beard turn the same color as my shirt collar?)
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