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The question What is the largest delta-v ever produced in space from mechanically stored energy? asks of course about the delta-v produced, but here I'm asking about the largest amount of stored energy.

update: since there are a variety of ways to store energy, and since there are no answers, I'll narrow this down to springs and other mechanical devices which use mechanical stress/strain in solid materials.

Here's an example of a big spring pushing the first and second stages of an Antares rocket apart, from Scott Manley's video The Antares Rocket - NASA's Less Famous Ride To The Space Station:

The Antares Rocket - NASA's Less Famous Ride To The Space Station GIF

As another example there is a Falcon 9 "pusher"; a central rod from the first stage that extends through the nozzle of the 2nd stage engine and pushes on the back of the combustion chamber. For more see

Question: What is the largest energy stored in a spring or other mechanical devices which use mechanical stress/strain that has ever been put in space? Ideally this should be intentionally stored mechanical energy.

"Put" implies that it didn't necessarily have to work or be used in practice.

uhoh
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    It's going to be a flywheel – Antzi Jun 07 '19 at 06:28
  • @Antzi I'd prefer an answer that mentions intentional storage of energy, I'll edit the question to reflect my preference. Thanks! – uhoh Jun 07 '19 at 06:39
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    Might be a bolo despin system. It drains the spin energy of the entire spacecraft before being discarded into space. – SF. Jun 07 '19 at 08:49
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    @uhoh: One stores the unwanted energy in them to discard it. They are kinetic energy equivalent of heatsinks/radiators, or more accurately sublimators. – SF. Jun 07 '19 at 09:12
  • @SF. It's discarded angular momentum, not stored energy. I don't want to debate semantics with you, I'm clarifying my question. "In that sense they are reaction masses rather than mechanical energy storage devices. It's not like one *stores* energy in them to be used later the way a mechanical spring, compressed on the ground, stores energy to be released later during the mission." – uhoh Jun 07 '19 at 09:13
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    @uhoh: Angular momentum is inseparably bound with rotary kinetic energy. But it's energy stored only for discarding, not reuse, so I acknowledge this is not what you're asking about. – SF. Jun 07 '19 at 09:20
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    are pneumatics and hydraulics mechanical, in which case pressure fed tanks may be a candidate... –  Jun 07 '19 at 10:51

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