Science Forums 2

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by Pyrotex

You guys rock!
Thanks for taking my idea and running with it.

Hey! Who took our Bucky ball!

Originally Posted by Pyrotan

To answer some questions: the "town" within the FBS must be a rigid structure, and so it follows that the whole structure should be rigid.

You don't want to depend on the material strength of a single ginormous balloon. The geodesic structure is the strongest mass/volume structure possible. If the elements are carbon composites, then mass goes down even more.

Absolutely. We may yet tinker with the mile-wide size, but rigidity is demanded. Here is a geodesic sphere as a tensegrity structure per Bucky himself: >> Fig. 717.01

Originally Posted by Pyron

Even with the jet streams, we have a problem. How to stay IN the jet stream, or how to get back in after we leave and descend to an altitude reachable by helicopters. As much as I dislike it, some form of propulsion is necessary. Maybe a few hundred electric prop-fans mounted on the outside. Given the cross-sectional area of the FBS, you're not going to get more than 10 or 20 MPH out of it all. Maybe that's enough.

Here is where my proposal fits, and is perhaps yet not understood. By having the living space & mechanics attached rigidly but gymbaled, power is applied at the axes to cause the FBS to rotate and using the Magnus effect we achieve propulsion. Changing the axis of rotation steers the FBS.

Originally Posted by Pyrotax

Just PLEEEEEZ don't suggest the FBS be propelled by burning fuel.

Roger that...except for as I said, electolyzing water (gathered from the clouds? ) by means of electricity from photovoltaic panels and using the Hydrogen as a combustion fuel where prudent.