Can I use a trebuchet to launch satellites into space from a lunar colony?
I've got a lunar colony that struggles to obtain resources, so they're looking for ways to launch satellites into orbit without using up a bunch of rocket fuel.
One plucky engineer has suggested that trebuchets are the way to go, pointing out that the lack of a lunar atmosphere and the reduced gravity are clear advantages that make it possible on Luna. We've got plenty of materials, but nothing from the future. Our satellites are ~1 kg and have withstood all forces we've been able to apply to them so far.
Given current technology, could a trebuchet be used to launch a satellite into orbit around the Moon?
I've tagged this question hard-science but am open to some theoretical/unsupported conjecture.
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1 answer
The two existing answers address difficulties in converting the energy imparted to the satellite by the trebuchet into an orbit.
You have limited resources, but don't clarify what resource are available. You need also consider that a trebuchet stores potential energy generated by humans over a long period of time and releases it in short period of time.
Counterweight trebuchets are powered by gravity; potential energy is stored by slowly raising an extremely heavy weight box (typically filled with stones, sand, or lead) attached by a hinged connection to the shorter end of the beam, and releasing it on command. Traction trebuchets are human powered; on command, men pull ropes attached to the shorter end of the trebuchet beam. The difficulties of coordinating the pull of many men together repeatedly and predictably makes counterweight trebuchets preferable for the larger machines
The humans will need to be fueled by organics (food) & Oxygen and will require significant people hours of time to store that energy.
You would likely get better results with the same volume of organics and less people hours, by converting the organics directly into combustible fuels. The only real advantage the trebuchet would provide is allowing the oxygen & carbon to remain on/in the lunar colony.
Organics used on moon to store energy in the trebuchet would be converted to Carbon Dioxide in the closed lunar environment (presumably) and be available to convert back to pure Oxygen and Carbon.
Organics used direct propellants (rockets) would either be used in space and lost or would need to be fired in a way that they could be recovered inside the closed system.
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