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Space elevator contest proposed
msnbc.com ^
| 08/27/04
| Alan Boyle
Posted on 08/27/2004 6:26:48 PM PDT by KevinDavis
Enthusiasts on Friday unveiled an effort to establish an annual competition for space-elevator technologies, taking a page from the playbook for other high-tech contests such as the $10 million Ansari X Prize.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Unclassified
KEYWORDS: hinduropetrick; indianropetrick; magicropetrick; marsprize; space; spaceelevator; spaceexploration
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First the X-Prize, Mars Prize, this is neat...
To: RightWhale; Brett66; xrp; gdc314; sionnsar; anymouse; RadioAstronomer; NonZeroSum; jimkress; ...
2
posted on
08/27/2004 6:27:34 PM PDT
by
KevinDavis
(Let the meek inherit the Earth, the rest of us will explore the stars!)
To: KevinDavis
To: KevinDavis
Given the amount of junk from space programs already orbiting, what kind of armor shielding would that elevator need to be able to operate for a long time?
4
posted on
08/27/2004 6:36:59 PM PDT
by
GSlob
To: KevinDavis
This idea has been around in sci-fi books for years, and it could actually work.
The question is: who would build, and who would use, something that would become an instant target for terrorists?
5
posted on
08/27/2004 6:39:20 PM PDT
by
Noachian
(Legislation without representation is tyranny)
To: GSlob
I'm more concerned about the Muslim fanatic in a Cessna.
6
posted on
08/27/2004 6:40:25 PM PDT
by
IrishCatholic
(No local communist or socialist party chapter? Join the Democrats, it's the same thing.)
To: KevinDavis
Many of the details surrounding the "Elevator:2010" challenge including financing still have to be fleshed out, however. Primarily financing. The use of light to power a rocket has already been done.
7
posted on
08/27/2004 6:43:38 PM PDT
by
RightWhale
(Withdraw from the 1967 UN Outer Space Treaty and establish property rights)
To: KevinDavis
It should be a 1 billion dollar prize...
That would get a lot of attention from American ventures. And provide the capital for the developers to turn it into a real business.
To: coconutt2000
Now, do you think we can tax the richest socialist liberals for the common good?
/humor
To: KevinDavis
PFFFFFFFFFTT! I want my robot maid.
10
posted on
08/27/2004 6:48:27 PM PDT
by
annyokie
(Now with 20% More Infidel!)
To: KevinDavis
I am proposing a "Make John a Billionaire Contest".
Grand prize for the winning team will be $10 million. All subsequent successful entrants will be awarded $5 million.
11
posted on
08/27/2004 6:50:30 PM PDT
by
sharktrager
(The road to hell is paved with good intentions. And the paving contractor lives in Chappaqua.)
To: KevinDavis
Electromagnetic propulsion development for high-speed ground transportation, launch assist, and high velocity launch rails will advance the technology needed to travel the 36,000 kilometer length of the space elevator as part of a fast, safe, and energy efficient system.I don't know.......the thought of getting into the Space Elevator, then having to listen to Muzak during the entire 36,000 kilometer ride to the top doesn't appeal to me at all.
To: GreenHornet
Especially songs by Simon and Garfunkel...
13
posted on
08/27/2004 7:17:55 PM PDT
by
KevinDavis
(Let the meek inherit the Earth, the rest of us will explore the stars!)
To: KevinDavis
My wife and I were just talking about investing in
Liftport today. I inquired as to investment opportunities in their company a couple of years ago and earlier this month they put together an early initial offering, but it ends on 8/31/2004 so we have to decide quickly.
My feeling is one of 4 things will happen (in ascending order of preference):
- They'll fail.
- Their project will become acquired by the military or NASA.
- They will have a hard time putting it all together, but their patents will pay off.
- They will succeed and we'll be rich!
I think the Space Elevator has a much greater chance for success in the near future than the
Time Travel Fund. :-)
Comments?
14
posted on
08/27/2004 7:20:47 PM PDT
by
kruelio
To: GreenHornet
15
posted on
08/27/2004 7:27:28 PM PDT
by
GEC
To: KevinDavis
16
posted on
08/27/2004 7:36:01 PM PDT
by
ElkGroveDan
(Santorum 2008)
To: GreenHornet
then having to listen to Muzak during the entire 36,000 kilometer ride Bigger concern.
To: KevinDavis
There's $10 million that will never be awarded. I'll chip in $1 million to the winner. ;')
18
posted on
08/27/2004 8:08:02 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(Unlike some people, I have a profile. Okay, maybe it's a little large...)
To: kruelio
The materials research may pay off bigtime, kinda like how the 1960s space program had spinoff technology, like pens that write upside down (as the Russians said, "why not just use a pencil?"), dehydrated broccoli, and Tang. And the use of really long tethers in space may be of some benefit. No chance of making a space elevator though. (':
19
posted on
08/27/2004 8:10:20 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(Unlike some people, I have a profile. Okay, maybe it's a little large...)
To: KevinDavis
I'm all for this. But I've heard that the filaments will generate voltage in then ionosphere. Keep me on this list.
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