New group for Space Tethers

Al Globus wrote:

>
> On Jan 18, 2004, at 9:28 PM, vincecate wrote:
>
> > I think rotating space tethers are a practical method
> > to give us Cheap Access To Space (CATS).
>
> Tethers are, obviously, useless for launch from Earth

Rotating tethers have been credibly proposed to latch on to a
single-stage launch vehicle. This makes the launch vehicle /much/
smaller and improves the payload.

Once latched on, the remaining delta-v can be provided by a high ISP
thruster, and because the launch vehicle is dropped off before adding
the delta-v, you can get significant reduction in the fuel required.