From the earth to the moon by gondola

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Abstract

To set up a gondola transportation system between two locations, at least two stations are needed, one for departure and one for arrival, and a cable to connect them. Applied to a two-way transportation system between the Earth and the Moon, those stations would be the South Pole of the Earth on the one hand and a lunar place on the near side of the Moon on the other hand. A bundle of cables would connect these two terminals and enable the transportation of passengers and cargo between them, with possible intermediate platforms in some noticeable locations such as the Lagrangian L1 point of the Earth-Moon system, the Earth geostationary orbit area or some gravitational analogs of Mars or the Moon, closer to the Earth. As a consequence of the orbital characteristics of the Moon with respect to the Earth, some major concerns have to be solved: the 28-day rotation period of the Moon around the Earth, the variation of its elevation angle between -28 and +28 with respect to the Equator and the variation of the Earth-Moon distance by about 50.000 km in a two week time frame.

Original languageEnglish
JournalProceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC
Volume2020-October
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2020
Event71st International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2020 - Virtual, Online
Duration: 12 Oct 202014 Oct 2020

Keywords

  • Earth moon gondola

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