[117360] in Cypherpunks
Re: tethers as antennae?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Tim May)
Wed Sep 1 02:51:56 1999
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Date: Tue, 31 Aug 1999 23:28:14 -0700
To: cypherpunks@algebra.com
From: Tim May <tcmay@got.net>
Reply-To: Tim May <tcmay@got.net>
At 6:38 PM -0700 1999-08-31, Anonymous wrote:
>Tethered objects in space are being studied by NASA and less
>public agencies.
>
>Can someone more familiar with RF (and perhaps
>orbital mechanics) inform the list about the
>reception potential of a 2 mile wire in space?
>
>And speculate on large-scale extremely high gain
>antennae you could construct in low earth orbit?
>
>Mr. Karn, sir, are you listening?
>
>Newton Maxwell
>
If you were one percent of Maxwell, you'd know what bullshit this is.
So long as an antenna is at least a suitable fraction of a wavelength,
e.g., at least a half-wavelength or better, increased length just adds to
the overall received power.
A significant factor? No more so than many shorter antennas in parallel.
E.g., a Yagi or grid or even a dish.
Tethering is used for orbital mechanics reasons, a la slingshots. And for
power generation studies. But a 2-mile long wire whose oriention will be
difficult to change (for orbital mechanics reasons!) is not nearly as
interesting as a 300-meter diameter array antenna which can be easily aimed
and which has much more overall power than a single wire.
I'm getting fed up with anonymous "FedMonger" and "Newton Maxwell" clowns
who actually seem to have only a 10th-grade science education.
--Tim May
Don't tread on me.
---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:----
Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money,
ComSec 3DES: 831-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero
W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets,
"Cyphernomicon" | black markets, collapse of governments.
