Insider page: Barsam

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SVlad
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Re: Insider page: Barsam

Post by SVlad »

Satellites on orbit are stable because they are almost point masses. But even push from docking ship would be enough to start fall ring from orbit. And it would take months, not years.
I've found a short but got explanation.
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Mr.Tucker
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Re: Insider page: Barsam

Post by Mr.Tucker »

entity2636 wrote:Somehow I don't quite buy it. Even if the ring is in a geostationary orbit, it will be a very unstable system because it encircles the whole planet and gravity and centrifugal forces work on the ring from all sides. Even the slightest uncompensated change in position would be transferred onto the opposing point of the ring and the effect will double in strength. What I mean is, if something acts on one point of the ring resulting in this point getting closer to the planet (say, a meteor impact or the gravitational pull of a passing asteroid, or gravitational resonance with another planet in the system, or whatever, even the natural unevenness of the planet's gravity due to surface features or irregularities of internal composition, you get the point), there will be a point diametrically opposite this point that will be forced farther from the planet. The gravitational pull on the closer point gets stronger and weaker on the opposite point. This effect will pretty much instantly "run away" and the ring will collapse without constant control and adjustment which solar powered ion engines as RCS thrusters probably can't manage.

You said there are some space elevators connecting the Agumo to the planet's surface... If there are more than one of them, their shafts/masts could be seen as working as additional anchors to keep the ring station in place, if it weren't for plate tectonics... Is Armis geologically active?
It may have a stationary component, containing the endpoints of the elevators and solar collection arrays, and a mobile part, that spins at above orbital velocity inside the structure itself. Seems like a pretty standard orbital ring.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMbI6sk-62E&t=16s
If at orbital velocity, the ringworld isn't unstable if in movement. Rather, it is impossible to build due to needing materials that are unreasonably strong.

Witty_Username
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Re: Insider page: Barsam

Post by Witty_Username »

Mr.Tucker wrote:It may have a stationary component, containing the endpoints of the elevators and solar collection arrays, and a mobile part, that spins at above orbital velocity inside the structure itself. Seems like a pretty standard orbital ring.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMbI6sk-62E&t=16s
Always upvote Isaac Arthur. 8-)
An Orbital Ring is a Dynamic Structure; it needs stabilisation. This can be by thrusters and reaction wheels (that's how we stabilise our satellites). Alternatively, since the ring is connected to the ground by a number of tethers, they can provide passive stabilisation. The more the better, and it's best to offset them to either side.
Tethers from Geostationary orbit to the ground are our of our capability atm (IOTL), but if you can build a 100km thick tube 250k km long then constructing 35k km long tethers probably aren't a big deal. The tethers and anchor points (both on land and on the ring) may be constructed to cope with shifting plates over time; taking the Australian Plate as an example, in a million years it'll have moved about 50km which isn't much considering the length of the tethers.

Jericho
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Re: Insider page: Barsam

Post by Jericho »

Reading about how the Barsam gain greater size at the cost of higher oxygen requirement got me to think about how dinosaurs and birds have hollow bones to make them lighter and to allow for more efficient intake of oxygen. Do the barsam have a similar advantage?
If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through. General C.H Melchett commander of some unknown british regiment in the western front.

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