The Stratosphere Studio | Episode 003

Bill: I think there may be a problem with your counter rotating masses. Think that you need at least four — two sets of two — in order to stop a right angle moment arm or right angle force that in space would tend to rotate the whole mass of the ship either at a right angle to the rotating plain or perhaps in a spiraling motion. Sort of a cone shape spiral with the axle of the rotation being the point of the cone. I know you don’t see it on, say, a counter rotation helicopter, but gravity on the shear mass countervails it. In space…. Also, I wonder how a change in vector would affect the rotating masses. Stand on a lazy Susan and hold a spinning bicycle wheel between your hands. If you attempt to change the direction of the plain of rotation,you will spin on the lazy Susan. I did it as a kid — sort of fun. Wouldn’t the opposite be true?