Recommendations
Based on the analysis presented, tethers provide the means to carry out highly focused scientific missions which fail to warrant a traditional satellite or are unfeasible using established hardware. The MEMS sample mission illustrates only one possibility, and should serve as a recommendation to explore other small scale scientific missions. Whereas, small missions often get relegated to riding piggyback with other semi-related missions, miniaturized satellites employing tethers for power generation and passive propulsion might allow the separation of these missions into separate entities, each tailored specifically to carry out the scientific objectives. Inevitably this would produce more accurate and valuable data. Successful implementation of this scheme would also build confidence, which at this point is lacking, for broad base use of tethers on manned expeditions and primary large scale applications. A bottom up approach appears logical given the complexity associated with tethers and the marginal success of deployment to date.
Summary
Overall, tethers hold great promise to recast the exploration of space. This report detailed the basic concepts necessary to carry out a tether based application, including momentum transfer, passive propulsion, power generation, and gravity control. Also an overview of actual tether utilization highlighted the confirmation of theoretical inferences, but also the difficulty inherent to achieving success. Furthermore, this paper presented a preliminary mission analysis, detailing the impact a tether would play in a proposed materials research experiment. Applying fundamental astrodynamic principles a numerical model successfully simulated the complete mission. Finally, recommendations based on the totality of the research outlined the author's hope with regards to the future course and direction of space tethers.
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