Vacuum Technology Payloads
Several payloads have been investigated for
possible development
using the extremely ultra high vacuum of outer
space. According to
the Wakeshield Project, a consortium of
semiconductor manufacturers,
the main limitation
of the Space Shuttle is the contamination of the vacuum
by propulsion effluent outgassing from the vehicle.
A levitator
spacecraft if available, would be of great interest
because it has no
effluent in space. Simple suborbitals would be
adequate for super
performing solid state devices.
Simple applications in the space vacuum include
evacuating pressure
tanks at apogee, shutting the valve and bringing
down the vacuum
for use in semiconductor ovens.
Also, insulated antennas made on the ground can be
evacuated in
space and sealed, providing low cost high
performance wireless
improvements with reduced weight.
And in the spectacular department:- an
electrostatic generator acting
in the extreme vacuum of space, generating a 100
trillion volts, will
cause pair production across the arcing points
releasing long lasting
discharge until the generator burns
out.
These payloads require a minimal Levitator Launch
Vehicle capable
of reaching 300 miles up. Developing the payload
will cost more than
the vehicle.