HiVOLT

HiVOLT (acronym for High Voltage Orbiting Long Tether) is a concept proposed by Robert P. Hoyt and Robert L. Forward for removing the radiation fields of the Van Allen radiation belts [ [http://radbelts.gsfc.nasa.gov/outreach/RadNews.html NASA outreach: Rad News] ] that surround the Earth. A proposed configuration consists of a system of five 100 km long conducting tethers deployed from satellites, and charged to a large voltage. This would cause charged particles that encounter the tethers to have their pitch angle changed, thus over time dissolving the Van Allen belts, reducing their strength to 1% of their current value.

A chart exists depicting radiation flux reduction [ [http://www.tethers.com/WebImages/HiVOLT_Results.jpgChart depicting radiation flux reduction] ] - This chart illustrates that the HiVOLT System could reduce the radiation flux to less than 1% of its natural levels within six months. [ [http://www.tethers.com/ TUI] ] performed the preliminary analysis simulation, on which this chart was based.

External links

* [http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/radiation_belts_020916.html Proposal: Removing Earth's Radiation Belts]
* [http://www.tethers.com/ www.tethers.com] ( [http://www.tethers.com/HiVOLT.html Radiation remediation] )

References