efficient orbital vehicles

So here's my idea for creating more environmentally friendly
orbital vehicles.

Create a launch platform that could be raised or lowered, say
50 miles, on which the orbital vehicles are attached.  The accent
of the platform can be slow - and it would be raised like
a hot air balloon heated by concentrated sun light.  Then,
when the launch platform was not in use it could also function
as a power plant - supplying electricity/power.

The orbital vehicles would be dropped from the platform,
developing acceleration, then turning upward to attain orbital
velocity.  The actual trajectory would need to be analyzed,
but at there most efficient, they would be able to use something
like electric jets/rockets.

Ideally, these orbital vehicles would be able to return to the launch
platform, and the whole unit would gradually descend toward
earth.

There are many ways to design, in detail devices of this type,
the issue being how long can you maintain a concentrated
beam of sun light.  There are addition design factors to consider
such as -

1) batteries.
2) orbital " winches " - as for example
Arthur Clarke style - elevators.
3) other stuff - I haven't or can't think of.

For example, the actual orbiting vehicles could be launched upward,
from the launch platform, as in some kind of balloon, and then at
a higher altitude, drop, then use engines of some type to attain orbital velocity.

People Climate 9/21/2014

So this

> peoples climate

discusses some concerns of a " good many " people about climate
and the environment.

While it is possible that all these people are nuts -----
somehow, I find that very unlikely.

Briefly on Tesla

So I did watch a documentary and movie on Nikola Tesla,
which indicated to me if he had been adequately compensated
for his work he would of died quite wealthy, but did not.
This is even after deducting from what he might have
done, but did not.  But of course I'm no expert on that.

All that aside, it seems to me that what he was attempting
to do was create a prototype for a global energy transmission system.
Apparently, there was not a lot of  " buy in " from the financial
community of his time (  i.e., how many nickels can you
transform into dimes ? ), although you should consider
there was  some communication problems.  I think a lot
of people were scared.

Although, he might have been a bit ahead of his time, and by
that I mean he did not have access to the information and
technology available today, he did understand that what
he was doing was trying to create a " model " - at least -
I believe that is what he believed.  Again, I am no expert.
But I also did have the distinct impression that he was
quite " environmentally " conscious and concerned.

some details (links) on current - Wireless Power Transmission

So I just wanted to add this link to IEEE, 2013

> wireless transmission

and just point out from the description >

" WPT arrays is still an open research field " 

and this, 2011

> wireless transmission - other

from a Stanford student.

and this, 1992

> beamed microwave transmission

which includes " space " .

and this, 2014

> long distance power transmission

which again includes " space ".

and finally this, approx 2014

>  long-distance-wireless-power-transmission

Building complex capacitive devices.

From my last post - my idea is to create interconnected
capacitors - or storage devices with some complex behaviors -

1),  they would be able to discharge at electric
transmission voltages,

2),  they would be able to charge themselves -
-- collectively --- over long distances, longer distances
than are currently used in the electric transmission
grid.   So in fact they would have to transform high
energy transmissions back to electric current frequency.

3), they would be able to be charged from a variety of
sources, including alternative energy sources, residual
energy from infrastructure, as well as standard transmission
voltages.

If someone has these things built already, I would suggest
trying them out.

If they haven't been built, I know parts of it has, I think
someone needs to try and build one.  Probably will
cost " a bunch " of money ( most likely with zeros ).
\
Just so you know, I think some one could/may have an
even better idea.

At one point I had the idea that satellites might be used,
but I think that would imply a greater degree of accessibility
to orbit ( i.e. cheaper methods of
transport for people - to be monitoring and maintaining equipment ).

However, not building something like this because of
" space technology ", would, I think, be kind of stupid.

Expanding the nut shell

The transmission grid can be modeled as a battery and a resistor.
In order to make the picture more accurate the resistor must vary
over time.  My previous suggestion is to add a capacitative device
between the battery and the resistor - in fact creating an addition
battery.  If the capacitor is designed to provide peak voltage,
the battery at the other end can be made smaller.

In addition it would be possible to draw in current to a not yet
designed device at lower voltages  which would also supply
the capacitive device.

My other thoughts are that if these new devices are interconnected
by high energy bridges ( bridges which have higher ( energy/voltage )
than the current electric grid ) - energy could be ( shared ? ) across
regions, further reducing the load on the power generation system.
Even higher energy bridges might then connect more distant regions.

This all sounds vaguely like trying to make energy out of nothing.
Actually, it's an idea at how to utilize the energy we now
( produce and consume ) more efficiently.

How To Redesign the Electric Transmission Grid in a NUTSHELL

My original estimate for the redesign of the transmission grid in
2004 was $100,000,000.00

Today, because the average engineer is 20 times dumber than in
2004 - the new estimate is $2,000,000,000.00 --

Now - what's the problem:

The situation is this:

 the current - electric network is a Carnot engine which takes
" low energy " input --- creates High - energy transmission -
and then converts back to medium - distribution
and finally back to  usable "mechanical" stuff.

Changing the name to protect the innocent - call it an
energy transmission system ---

Carnot engine --- low input --- ( add capacitance ) --- various
higher energy transmission methods ---- etc, back to usable stuff..

The high energy does not have to be electric - it just has to be
efficient and somehow can be reconverted (efficiently) to
( the usable stuff ).


Moving right along ---- >>>>>

now the redesign takes place like this --- basically ----

3 international teams of less that 10 per ---- for " high level design"
( 30 x $150,000.00 = $4,500,000.00 ) approx 6 mo to 1 yr effort.


and at high level design phase end
- regroup and select the best features from the 3 teams.

large staff of engineers to do analysis --- research --- and
lower level design ---
( 500 - 1000 @ 50 - 100k =  --- $ 1,000,000,000.00 )
??? time frame.

again --- large technical staff for review --- issues dealing with
 --- > implementation --- and cost --- and creating sufficient
total documentation - that the actual --- build phases will not
require ---- additional expense at that level ---- however, it is
reasonable to assume that -- there will be continuous
ongoing costs - which should attempt to be minimized.
( ??? @ approx --- $1,000,000,000.00 )  ??? time frame.


And finally my current build estimate is $50,000,000,000.00 ---
but that is for an international system - over a 10-30 year time frame.

Approx: --- 5,000,000,000.00 / yr.

In conclusion, it is doable, it is prudent, and it's
( for many reasons ) - necessary.

The only problem is where does the money come from ???????

Well it should come from not just one country --- it should
be an international effort - although - in the end it will involve
local labor - so that some of those costs may
have to be absorbed nationally.

But if you plan on reducing --- transportation costs, resulting
labor synergy from infrastructure planning --- and more over
all benefits coming down the road - you have a long term --- pay back ...

Besides which you are employing a lot of people in constructive
efforts which is beneficial on a global economic level. Ideally -
some of this would come from ""  ??? decreasing international
hostilities "" ( ????? ) ... a highly unsound - non-beneficial
labor intensive process.

Improve the environment --- improve the economy --- and
 keep the planet - habitable for humans.