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Konecny Station Parameters

geff=|Ω
(R)"Planetary radius"
(g)"Acceleration of gravity at planet surface"
(d_1)"Altitude of lower station"
(m_1)"Mass of lower station"
(m_2)"Mass of upper station"
(g_"eff")"Effective g on station"
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Altitude of station 2:
Distance between stations:
Altitude of zero g point:
Orbital period:
Rotations per day:
Distance from 0 g point to lower station:
Distance from 0 g point to upper station:
Cable tension:
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Astronomy

The Konecny Station Parameters calculator computes the physical parameters associated with a Konecny Space Station that orbits a planet.

INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following: 

  • (R) Planetary radius (default Earth (6378 km))
  • (g) Acceleration of gravity on planetary surface (default: 1 g = 9.8 m/s2)
  • (d1) Altitude of lower station (default: 200 km above Earth's surface)
  • (m1) Mass of lower station (default: 10000 kg)
  • (m2) Mass of upper station (default: 10000 kg)
  • (geff) Effective gravity on upper station (default 0.25g = 2.45 m/s2)

Konecny Station Parameters:  The calculator returns the following:

  • d2: Altitude of upper station in kilometers
  • ds: Distance between stations in kilometers
  • dg: Altitude of zero g point in kilometers
  • P: Orbital period in minutes
  • N: Number of revolutions per day of satellite
  • l1: Distance of zero gravity point to lower station in kilometers
  • l2: Distance of zero gravity point to upper station in kilometers
  • CT: Cable Tension in Newtons

These all can be automatically converted to compatible units via the pull-down menu next to the answer provided.

The Math / Science

The Konecny space station concept envisions a pair of tethered space stations at different orbital distances from the center of the Earth.  Because of the tether, the lower station orbits more slowly than an untethered station will, and the upper station more rapidly.  Both lead to a net "artificial" gravity that people on the station experience, due to the imbalance of "centrifugal" with gravitational force.  

References