Space elevators have long been a staple of science fiction. Now, scientists in Japan will test space-elevator tech from the
International Space Station. Credit: NASA
I read an article about those cubesats a year or so ago. Pretty amazing concept. They could end up applying something akin to Moore’s law to satellites.
I thought the Space Elevator was a plot device on the old Lost In Space series?
They need advances in cable material for a real space elevator to work, but it will be pretty cool when they have one working.
Another brilliant idea from Arthur C Clarke.
The communication satellite worked so well.
I’m confused. Doesn’t that mean if the earth side part of the elevator is fixed the satellite would have to be in a geosynchronous orbit? If the earth side part is not fixed wouldn’t it drag on every high feature in its path?
I predict that thing will become the biggest lightning rod of all time.
Guaranteed failure.
A cable from the surface of the Earth to a satellite. I’m sure the engineers have calculated the stress that would be on the cable due to gravity, and the weight of the cable itself, plus the effect of winds and the movement of the cable through the atmosphere because it is being dragged by the rotating Earth to which it is attached. Also, they will have carefully considered all possible scenarios in which something can go wrong and have assured themselves that the humans in the space station are not in danger when the cable snaps or a plane flies into it or a hurricane or a tornado whips it around or lightning hits it.
Engineers think of everything, and they never create structures that collapse.
They might want to review the TSS program (Tethered Satellite System). Didn’t work out so well for them.
I've heard of "Rods from God", but this would be a "Flail from Hell" ...
Asteroid needed first. We are 200 years away from the space elevator people.
Not making sense to me. How do cubsat cables that are only 33 feet long run 240,00 miles to the moon?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T02t_MBgYVU
Contest in Japan for cable cor for elevator. These have run fro several years. The Japanese are serious about a space elevator.
Hard part will be parking a sizable asteroid in earth orbit to anchor the top end of the elevator...
This was being experimented with 20+ years ago
http://articles.latimes.com/1996-02-26/news/mn-40319_1_space-shuttle-columbia
In space, no one can hear you scream after listening to 12 hours of Muzak in the Space Elevator.
Not buying it. You know how much a spool of wire 300 miles long would weigh? The force of pull keeping it up on the top end would break it.
Has anyone tried building a Megasized Wrist Rocket Slingshot ?
We have plenty of commieleftists for Testing and Practice Ammo...
This is cool and I hope they’re able to make it happen.
One question though, What happens if those cables snap and come tumbling down to earth? That would be one hell of a mess!