How do Intense Magnetic Storms Affect a Space Elevator?

Paper number

IAC-13,D4,3,7,x18785

Author

Dr. Anders Jorgensen, New Mexico Tech, United States

Coauthor

Dr. Steven Patamia, Global Research Enterprises, LLC, United States

Year

2013

Abstract

In this paper we examine the dynamic susceptibility of a space
  elevator (Edwards 2000) to changes in the geospace environment
  precipitated by magnetic storms. The elevator consists of a thin
  carbon nanotube ribbon extending to approximately 15 Earth radii in
  the equatorial plane where it is terminated by a massive
  counterweight. The elevator is so long that it extends through the
  inner magnetosphere and radiation belts past geostationary orbit
  and, at times, into interplanetary space. As a result, different
  segments of the space elevator encounter different regions of
  magnetic and electric fields. As the elevator rotates with the
  earth, it experiences diurnal variations in the fields and these
  variations are compounded by changes associated with magnetic storm
  events. Electric fields will induce currents in the ribbon which
  interact with magnetic fields to apply forces to the
  ribbon. Magnetic storms are already known to present hazards to
  spacecrafts and suspected cases of damage have been documented.
  Larger magnetic storms produce larger electric fields. Since the
  beginning of the space age, there have been no direct measurements
  of field changes resulting from so-called superstorms, but
  historical evidence points to storms far larger than any seen in
  recent decades. The question of what effect a superstorm could have
  on a space elevator is thus not merely academic, but reflects
  foreseeable circumstances. Accordingly, we have devised a spectrum
  of possibilities and applied them to a well understood model of a
  space elevator. We utilize numerical simulation which incorporates
  symplectic integration to examine storm and cargo scenarios to
  portray realistic dynamic responses. We will show that strongly
  perturbed electric and magnetic fields can seriously interfere with
  the ability to implement elevator position control for space debris
  avoidance purposes.  As a byproduct of these cases studies, we also
  quantify the changes in internal stress which the elevator must be
  able to withstand to avoid being damaged.

Abstract document

IAC-13,D4,3,7,x18785.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

(absent)