Preparing lunar surface . . .

Um, I did a web search. The tip of the rotovator follows
a shape called a cycloid. There is an applet that shows a
cycloid at:
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Java/Cycloid.html

You'll see that the tip comes in vertically; so no
nuclear weapons to level mountains are required.

victoriatangoman wrote:

> The scenario: There is a rotating lunar elevator that will orbit the
> moon and approach the lunar surface five times per orbit. The
> nearest approach is 50 feet from the surface.
>
> The Problem: As the rotating elevator descends it may encounter high
> spots in the terrain, even some mountain tops around the equator.
> These will have to be cleared to allow a clear path for the rotating
> elevator.
>
> What are the solutions?
>
> 1.) Nuclear exlosive to blow the obstructing mountain top out of the
> way. I think this is unlikely considering international treaties
> prohibiting nuclear weapons in space.
>
> 2.) A kinetic energy mass that is fired into the mountain. How much
> mass? What velocity? Do we launch the mass from earth? Do we collect
> space junk? Is it cost effective to collect space junk rather than
> launching inert mass from earth?
>
> 3.) A kinetic energy bomb. A combination hit of explosives and
> impact of the delivery vehicle. How dangerous is it to launch
> explosives? Is it necessary?
>
> 4.) Land a crew and have them plant the explosives strategically to
> allow the explosives to work efficiently, where the above examples
> would concentrate a lot of energy in a small space and that energy
> could remove a lot more material if spread over a larger area, and
> if it was buried.
>
> So which would be the best way to clear a path for the descending
> phase of the rotating lunar elevator?
>

--
- Ian Woollard (ian.woollard@...)

"Is a planetary surface the right place for an expanding
technological civilization?"
- Gerard O'Neill