Abstract
The motion of a number of artificial satellites connected in a ring one after another by tethers of variable length is considered. The ring can be stabilized by tension control of tethers of variable length. The stability condition involves two requirements: 1) the nominal tether tension should be less than a definite limit equal, to one satellite weight divided by the number of satellites, 2) tether tension should decrease (or remain constant) with the increase of the distance between the tethered satellites. Two independent parameters - the nominal tether tension and the tension derivation with respect to elongation - provide sufficient freedom for technical realization.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| State | Published - 1984 |
| Externally published | Yes |