The Interworld Rapid Transit system
(A Transportation Network for the Solar System)
By Forrest Bishop
Copyright (c) 1996, 1997, Forrest
Bishop, All Rights Reserved
Abstract
A Solar System-wide transportation system is proposed
for freight and for spacecraft propulsion. A network of accelerator/decelerator
stations in various positions around the Solar System pass 'Smart Pellets'
and other forms of matter and energy between each other, to planets and
other bodies, and to spacecraft in transit. Stations at planets might
be in high polar halo orbit, supported by planet-based accelerators, or
in nominal High Planetary Orbit, Highly Elliptic Planeta ry Orbit, or
forced orbits. Other 'relay stations' are in Solar free or forced orbits.
The positions these relay stations take up is dependent upon the particular
state of development of the entire Solar System, as well as the developmental
state of the t ransportation network itself. Some examples of networks
are shown, primarily between Earth, Mars, near Earth asteroids, the main
asteroid belt and the Jupiter system.
Electric power generation is the primary limitation on the system
throughput. For this reason, it is desirable to match the needs of each
particular shipment as closely as possible. A variety of matter accelerators,
with various mass flow and veloc ity ratings, might be included in any
particular station to help achieve this matching.
By supplying fuel on demand to a spacecraft in transit, extremely
fast and short manned interplanetary transfers are possible, a matter
of a few weeks or days. The specific impulse of the spacecraft's rocket
engine is not a limiting factor. Several novel accelerator station designs
are presented.
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