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Space elevator. Dream, hoax or reality?
21 years 11 months ago #3537
by Jim
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The funding of this should be interesting to watch. It could be a new dotcom industry in its infancy. If it does work what does it do?
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- MarkVitrone
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21 years 11 months ago #3542
by MarkVitrone
Replied by MarkVitrone on topic Reply from Mark Vitrone
The space elevator makes transit through the atmosphere energetically cheaper right?
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- Larry Burford
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21 years 11 months ago #3573
by Larry Burford
Replied by Larry Burford on topic Reply from Larry Burford
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
The space elevator makes transit through the atmosphere energetically cheaper right?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
If we do build beanstalks they will make transit everywhere in the Solar system energetically cheaper. In fact, except for losses due to friction, areo-drag, etc. it will be energetically free (for equal-mass payloads in both directions, and assuming a similar device at the destination).
This link takes you to a NASA page with a summary and a link to another more detailed document (PDF format, 80 pages).
www.niac.usra.edu/studies/files/final_report/pdf/472Edwards.pdf
Regards,
LB
The space elevator makes transit through the atmosphere energetically cheaper right?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
If we do build beanstalks they will make transit everywhere in the Solar system energetically cheaper. In fact, except for losses due to friction, areo-drag, etc. it will be energetically free (for equal-mass payloads in both directions, and assuming a similar device at the destination).
This link takes you to a NASA page with a summary and a link to another more detailed document (PDF format, 80 pages).
www.niac.usra.edu/studies/files/final_report/pdf/472Edwards.pdf
Regards,
LB
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21 years 11 months ago #3575
by Jim
Replied by Jim on topic Reply from
How do you determine the "beanstalk" will reduce the cost of getting into space?
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- Quantum_Gravity
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21 years 11 months ago #3576
by Quantum_Gravity
Replied by Quantum_Gravity on topic Reply from Randall damron
it will still cost the same for the short term and long term because the maintence on a "beanstalk" space elevator would have to be a massive crew working around the clock if the project done
The intuitive mind
The intuitive mind
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21 years 11 months ago #3581
by Jeremy
Replied by Jeremy on topic Reply from
From an engineering standpoint there is no theoretical reason why a space elevator can't be built. The question is whether one can be built for a reasonable cost. There are some severe design challenges ahead for the builders, such as:
1. The cable will eventually wear out. How does one keep repairing it while also using it?
2. What about catastrophic failure? Where can it be built so that the trail of falling material will not kill people?
3. In case of 2, how long would it take to build another one?
I don't know, why not just revive project Orion? Or launch payloads with ground based lasers? I know the elevator is ultimately more energy efficient but I am not convinced it is more cost efficient.
1. The cable will eventually wear out. How does one keep repairing it while also using it?
2. What about catastrophic failure? Where can it be built so that the trail of falling material will not kill people?
3. In case of 2, how long would it take to build another one?
I don't know, why not just revive project Orion? Or launch payloads with ground based lasers? I know the elevator is ultimately more energy efficient but I am not convinced it is more cost efficient.
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