Spin AG

[Piper]

You could have it both ways; spin the hub and have the docking bay spin with it and have a de-spun section on the opposite end of the hub where sensors and antennas are mounted and spinless docking can occur.

 

[Uncle Bob]

Originally posted by Piper:
You could have it both ways; spin the hub and have the docking bay spin with it and have a de-spun section on the opposite end of the hub where sensors and antennas are mounted and spinless docking can occur.

Adding both mechanically complicated de-spin and challenging rotating docking to the same system.

 

[parmasson]

If the hub does not spin then it will have to be bigger to accommodate all the bearings and whatnot.. Although if the hub were stationary you could have docking bay one side for smaller craft and a few extendable docking ports on the other side for the big ships. A stationary hub also means that smaller ships (200 tns) could "float" in the hub docking bay and we could fit more because they would not have to "land". Since this station is an independent political entity now (long story) the "starport" could be anything not spinning! Good idea I like it!


Hub Idea Image

 

[Piper]

Originally posted by Uncle Bob:
Adding both mechanically complicated de-spin and challenging rotating docking to the same system.

If you're using any kind of directional antennae, telescopes or solar panels you're probably going to need a de-spun section. Several current satellites use them (Gallileo for one).

Trying to transfer cargo from a stationary ship into a rotating cargo bay seems prone to accidents. I think it would be easier overall to have the ship match rotation first. Your cargo is then rotating with the station and can be more easily shifted to the appropriate spoke without worrying about matching the spin.

Wasn't the wheel in 2001 arranged that way?

 

[Andrew Boulton]

"Wasn't the wheel in 2001 arranged that way?"

Yes, the whole thing rotated. Either way causes problems, but this is the safest, most reliable way. I'll change the animation (I've got to make the Scout match rotation now...)

 

[Uncle Bob]

Any long range sensors will be in a seperate pod, probably free-flying to give them the stability they need. Sensors mounted on the station will be short ranged.

 

[Andrew Boulton]

I give you "The Full Stanley"!

http://www.geocities.com/andrew_boulton/station4a.avi

 

[parmasson]

Hmmm. It will not play. I have DivX and could play the last one? I click the link and it comes up as dead.

 

[Andrew Boulton]

<sigh>

Looks like Geocities are playing silly buggers.

I'll see what I can do.

 

[mike wightman]

It worked ok for me, until that &^£%*"! max alloted download timeout...

it looks very nice, like all of Andrew's cgi projects

 

[Andrew Boulton]

Try this: http://www.geocities.com/andrew_boulton/station.html

 

[mike wightman]

That works fine

Andrew, have you thought about linkink all these different sequences into one long story?

Is such a thing even possible?

Once again, thank you, they all look great

 

[Andrew Boulton]

The trouble with longer stories is there's not a lot of actual story! You can only go so far without actors etc.

 

[parmasson]

Extra special cool.
Thanks!

 

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

Ok, let's roll it again in 70mm! Pretty wild, Andrew! Very, very cool!

 

[Sifu Blackirish]

Darn it, the link didn't work for me!

 

[Andrew Boulton]

Worked okay just now. I can email it if it still won't work for you.