Re: [SG][DS][Campaigns] Mass transport and low G planets

----- Original Message -----
From: Terrance L. Smith <tlsmith@micron.net>
To: <gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2000 10:29 PM
Subject: [SG][DS][Campaigns] Mass transport and low G planets

> I have been wondering about what type of bulk and mass passenger
> transportation might be the norm on low G planets in the future. The
reason
> for my pondering is for scenario design; a planetary invasion will
likely
> make control or destruction of the transportation network a fairly
high
> priority.
>
> Assumptions: 1) We are talking about a planet with gravity about the
same
> as Mars (38% of earth's gravity) 2) Bulk freight and large masses of
people
> will still be most cost effectively moved using ground transportation.
(It
> is not economical to move iron ore using C141s.) Note: I am not
concerned
> with water transport at this point.
>
> Rail travel could be a problem. Inertia remains the same, but the
wheel to
> rail contact force will only be 40% (I assume this is proportional to
> gravity?) what it is on earth. Presumably that will reduce the load
that
> can be started and greatly increase the braking distance.
>
> There must be ways this problem could be reduced:
> -All wheels powered
> -Cog railway
> -Maglev (Something like Maglev feels right for a Sci-Fi setting. Much
more
> futuristic than steel rails. But how does the construction cost
compare.)
> -What else?
>

Cog railways are used in some mountainous environs here on Earth.  Of
course, speeds are low and probably would be even in a sci-fi setting
(too
easy to ruin your teeth if something shifts).

There is an experimental (urban) maglev design that the designer claims
to
have construction costs pretty close to modern urban rail systems (one
has
been suggested for trial in the Hampton Roads area, but nothing's come
of it
yet).  IIRC, this one is a monorail-type set up.

The all-wheel power option is pretty good.

Of course, all of this is based on the need for rails, which may not
exist--after all, the rails are there to help distribute the very heavy
load
that the car wheels would be transmitting to the ground--but if your
gravity
is 1/3 g, this weight is pretty low and you may be able to make do with
something less (like ashpalt or portland cement or even plastic).  I
could
see something like the Australian "road trains" being used- a tractor
engine
pulling three to six (or more) trailers.  They could be guided
automatically
by following a strip of magnetic tape on the roadway (whatever it's made
out
of).  Just an alternate thought.

And I wouldn't leave out water-borne transport since it really is the
MOST
efficient for bulk cargo.

> What are the list's thoughts?
>
> Terrance Smith, Ph.D., ELS

There you have my 2 pfennings worth.

Rob