| Abstract |
A space tether is a long cable used to couple spacecraft together as they orbit the central body (i.e. Earth). Tethers are usually made of thin strands of high-strength fibers such as Spectra or Kevlar. Any space tethered system is intimately connected to the gravitational force field. Conducting tethers offer the additional capability to interact with the magnetic and electrical force fields.
The tethered system demonstrates gravity gradient attitude control. This is a very low cost attitude control system and if suitable for the mission, typically orients the system to within ±10 degrees of the vertical, both in and out the orbit plane.
Because the space tether makes it possible to transfer energy and momentum from one object to another, it can legitimately be called a form of space propulsion. There are two general categories of tethers.
|
