Courtesy of J A P L
The Bolo YoYo
Space Habitat
The BoLo YoYo Space Habitat is an open source, cost effective and practical solution to prevent the negative effects that a zero g environment has on the human body. Individuals and teams are welcome and encouraged to build upon this work with the proviso that they include attribution.
BoLo Space Habitat
Project Summary
"Life is a Gift, and
In our Uncertain World,
The future is not Guaranteed,
However, if We Work Hard Together,
We have a Chance, and that is Reason for HOPE"
Colonize the Solar System
Protect Life and Mankind
(Expanded shape)
King Pin, cable and harness system
A cost-effective system to create 1 g environments for long duration space occupation
Experience has shown that the human body suffers from long exposure to a zero g environment. Proposed solutions include the von Braun torus and O’Neill cylinder, which have been subjected to extensive engineering study.
JAPL has over fifty years of experience in engineering design and construction management, from nuclear reactors, missile and launch systems, and submarine building and deployment. JAPL suggests that although the poetry of these rotating behemoths is obvious, the real cost of logistical supply and support make them infeasible with current human capability.
An alternate cost-effective solution is being proposed: the BoLo habitat and its derivatives. The following describes generally the concepts. This proposal relies upon the significant work done by many recent aerospace teams to develop the software and equipment allowing automated docking and soft landings of spaceships. This precise control allows coordinated placement of multiple craft and the ability to easily change the shape of and relative motion of the elements of a joined habitat.
The requirements for the creation and sustenance of a 1 g environment and habitat could be as little as the cost of three orbiters. The solution is to spin two orbiters on a tether about a common center, which is now feasible due to the automation, allowing the spacecraft to work with precise synchronization.
Safe interplanetary flight can be accomplished by yoking the orbiters together in LEO, initiating powered flight as a unit until velocity vectors to be gained are achieved for the desired trajectory, separating the spacecraft to the ends of the tether, and in concert, slowly begin orbit about the common center to generate simulated gravity on each ship. When required, prior to arrival on station, the ships can actively reduce their relative motion until they once again spool in the tether and attach to one another.
This design can also be used not just for travel, but for any long duration or permanent structure in a location capable of accommodating an activity of this size (not in orbit lanes, LEO). This design can be expanded to any multiples of spacecraft. Additional engineering and material can be applied to the BoLo system to provide storage, and also mass transfer between habitats, potentially less than the cost of a third orbiter.
The BoLo YoYo Space Habitat is developed for long term travel and human occupation of the solar system.
The design provides:
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An Earth normal gravity environment
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Effective interplanetary travel
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LEO construction time of less than a month
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As little as four launches to build
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Significantly reduced infrastructure and launch costs/time compared to the ISS, von Braun torus, (years vs decades, one billion vs five-hundred billion dollars), or an O'Neill cylinder (Impossible to build within the world's current economic capacity).
The design consists of:
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A system designed to change shape from an interplanetary traveler to an Earth normal gravity habitat as follows:
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A cubic truss assembled in orbit, open to vacuum, capable of carrying stores (YoYo core)
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Two or more earth launched vehicles containing one or more cabins (Bolo habitats)
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A robust "spool" anchored within the YoYo truss, capable of extruding and retrieving cable sets attached to the Bolo habitats
Bolo YoYo habitat side view
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In the retracted configuration
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With multiple rockets surrounding a truss core
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Capable of acceleration to planetary velocities
Bolo YoYo habitat expanded configuration side view
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Capable of providing one gravity of force within the habitable cabins
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Gravity is simulated during planetary coasting or stable orbits
The BoLo YoYo Space Habitat is developed for long term travel and human occupation of the solar system.
The construction sequence is as follows:
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Launch of two (or more) space ships with cabins designed for both zero and normal gravity
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Launch of a third vehicle containing lineal pipe struts to construct a simple and strong rectangular or cubic truss surrounding a robust linchpin spool for cables
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The truss is assembled, the two or more spaceships are mated to the truss and attached by cables to the robust spool
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Launch of further vehicles as necessary for outfitting and fueling of the initial spaceships
The deployment is as follows:
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All of the spaceships attached to the YoYo Truss fire main rockets in coordination to achieve velocity to transit to new orbit.
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When transit velocity is achieved and the unit is in coasting relative to each other, the spaceships use thrusters to deploy away from the YoYo truss slowly until at the end of each tether.
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Then, in coordination, the space ships apply a lateral thrust equally around the center spool, balanced by weight and distance, causing the system to rotate, the cables being equally taut.
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To prevent wobble, the system will require significant computer control, and to bring the Bolo YoYo into perfect balance will likely require a ballast control system capable of pumping fluid mass between the ships.
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This creates a simulated gravity in each habitat.
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When approaching the mission destination, the process would be reversed to allow for deceleration and any maneuvering necessary.
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The Bolos could be redeployed when on station.