The tethered satellite concept is introduced, and the advantages of being able to fly sensors closer to the Earth's surface than is normally possible with spacecraft (e.g., 200 to 100 km altitude) are underlined. Tethers can also be used to fly several sensors with well defined separation. Problems arise in dynamics and control, and the tether can be damaged by heating or space debris. Columbus platforms could carry tethers. Earth observation missions, including high resolution remote sensing, gravity gradiometry, geomagnetic surveys, and atmospheric sounding are suggested.
Tethers: An Outline of a New Concept for Earth Observation
1987
3 pages
Report
No indication
English
NTIS | 1992
|NTRS | 1992
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