Nasa Tether, Question

Okay, so before class I was board and looking through some entertaining stuff, and watched a few youtubes about UFOs, which I posted in the sci-tech sub-forum. I'm not sure how accurate the information is which is presented in the beginning of the video, but if it's true at all ... would the silicon nanowire vs. the carbon not remedy the issue?

I would also have to imagine that perhaps solar cycle activity, spots/flares could be problematic for such a thing? Could there not be a secondary "skin" for the tether to provided as much shielding as possible to combat increased solar or cosmic ray activity, which could be adjusted accordingly? I don't know, when Ron mentioned the tether it made me think about the silicon nanowire stuff I have been fascinated with for some time. I think that is one avenue with pursuing heavily. We have all kinds of ways to generate power, it's always seemed to be the storage which was or has been a problem.

So, I'm gonna answer my own question I suppose. Yes, it does.

Hi Meem,
Sorry to interrupt your self-conversation! I've been trying to find any references to compare the 2 (Si or C nano-wires), but, from what I'm finding there is no direct comparisons for this type of application. Si seems to be used for electronics. This would make sense to me because Carbon nano-tubes are made for their tensile strength, where Si is more applicable to semi-conduction. You know that carbon crystal structure lends itself to strength because of the way they bond. And, in a nano-tube, that strength is increased greatly.
Also, you wouldn't have the problems like you saw with Si because carbon would be much less susceptible to surges because of it's higher electrical resistivity.
I've only looked into this briefly, but I just wanted to keep you from getting to good at talking to yourself!

On a side note, I watched a program on ancient structures and the ancient alien connections today. There is a site in Bolivia that I'd never heard of before that is extremely interesting. It appears that this megalithic site is as much as 17,000 yrs old and extremely sophisticated. The structures are not intact, but the individual blocks and the way they are cut is impressive. I'll try to find more on it.
Talk to ya later,
Ron

Heya Ron,

Maybe the pure Si would not work, the pure carbon seemed to have it's failure as well, maybe a "weave" of the two? A stiff and rigid crystalline structure seems to discount Green's ideas about flux. Run with me here, because I am not that mathematically literate. So I will try to get at what I ... "think" I am saying. Take the change in building mechanics in earth quake prone areas. Once all buildings had a solid foundation, and they still are solid but, today most are designed to have flux incorporated into the base structure. I would think in the tethers case, something would have to allow for flux all along it. If Si is not able to be used to help the situation and only carbon is applicable, it probably needs better shielding from cosmic rays, which can be adjusted to compensate for flux in cosmic rays.

(edit) is it possible to make a ... "carbon-silicon" polymer? Where's a chemist when you need one! OR whoever the molecular structure specialists are!

I don't know, what about the role of capacity though? maybe the carbon wire could be wrapped around a silicon core, something like coaxial I suppose. Is that stupid? I know that's a loaded question around these parts but, honesty over pride

I'll have to look that about this structure in Bolivia, though it sort of sounds familiar already. I think maybe a while ago, I can vaguely remember something about really old stones and the speculations on how they could have been cut.

(p.s.) what kind of person doesn't like to hear Pink Floyd, even if they "overhear" someone "singing it in the shower?"

Later on,
Paul.

This post has been edited by Meem on Jul 4 2009, 12:23 AM

HI Paul,
Have you ever heard Les Claypool do the entire Animals album (with the 'fearless flying frog brigade')? You must listen to it, especially if you like The Colonel!
As far as Carbon non-tubes go, you really need to see the structure. If you think about how carbon locks together (think of carbonizing Iron to make steel), You'll see that it's structure is perfect for making very strong bonds with itself.
I'm not great at chemistry, but I know electronics, and what I know of Si compound, they can be extremely brittle. I'm not really sure why you don't like the idea of a pure carbon nano-tube. Check out some of the research. It's quite far along.
Peace,
Ron

According to some of the information on this Stanford work, it doesn't seem to be very brittle, at least that was the impression I had. lol the link was dead ... wierd.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/...71219103105.htm

I mean .. this stuff sounds like the answer to a lot of problems. I don't know. Very interesting stuff. I think all the money for "drill-here, drill-now" should be going to this, get us off that middle east teet, and let them make "blood money" somewhere else. Off topic, I am so glad that Palin quit. If she runs in 2012, I will be moving to Germany and work for my wife's uncle or something. Faster than you can say, "You betcha."

This post has been edited by Meem on Jul 5 2009, 01:38 AM

Pure single-crystalline silicon, even in bulk form, has a fabulous yield strength combined with a low density BUT is not used in mechanical applications because it is so brittle. To my knowledge, nobody has achieved an alloy nor anything that keeps silicon's strength and makes it tough.

Combining silicon with carbon is a working solution. At least two ways are used commonly:

SiC is a ceramic, very stable against heat and chemical agents, very strong in compression, but still a bit brittle. It is used mainly as an abrasive, but gets usable for mechanical parts if included as a powder in a metal: search for "Metal Matrix Ceramic" or Cermet.

Silicon is poured (mp~+1400°C) on carbon fibres. Their interface is excellent because it builds the stable SiC, so the composite of carbon fibres and silicon matrix doesn't delaminate. I played with some: they are light, hard, very strong in compression but not magic in tension nor bending. Used as brakes (Porsche) against metal for low-wear, high-temp, low dilation, and good friction coefficient when cold.

Practical materials
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_tether#...tical_materials