Space Elevators Maybe Closer To Reality Than Imagined

Spacedaily ^ | 7/22/03 | Richard Perry

[justlurking]

I wonder how they will deal with the fact that this tower will be exceeding the speed of sound as it rotates through the atomsphere?

The "orbiting" end of the cable would be in geosynchronous orbit. From an earth observer's point of view, it would be stationary.

The atmospheric winds would be blowing past it (especially if it is surrounded by the high-altitude jet stream), but it wouldn't be "rotating through the atmosphere".

[RightWhale]

There's not enough economically priced carbon around to build it either. Maybe the test vehicle can be done, but the full-scale production model will be massive.

[Alas Babylon!]

But the main image from this incarnation is when the cable is brought down by revolutionary action.

Terrorist, not revolutionary! Why is the press so afraid to say terrorism?

[justlurking]

It's no coincidence that both these cables are called 'Clarke'.

Actually, the asteroids used to anchor the orbiting end of the cable were named "Clarke", not the cable itself.

[aruanan]

"Going up! First floor, women's lingerie; nth floor, lunar and Mars arrivals and departures."

[justlurking]

Terrorist, not revolutionary! Why is the press so afraid to say terrorism?

One person's terrorism is another person's revolution.

The sabotage of the space elevator in Red Mars was just one battle in a war of independence. It prevented the Earth from bringing in reinforcements.

[Salgak]

Tucson would be tough. For reasons of orbital mechanics, initial Space Elevators need to be at or very near the Equator. . . .

[RightWhale]

People passengers will never ride this. It's for freight only. Too slow, way too slow.

[boris]

"Hmm, with all the talk of avoid natural disaster I think they should build it right here in Tucson."

It must terminate on the Equator. (Think about it.)

Suddenly South American nations become very important to be friends with.

--Boris

[RightWhale]

Hello, Quito.

[boris]

"Stairway to heaven? The whole idea is pretty much stupid."

It is the only technically-feasible method for making the human race a 'spacefaring' civilization. Rockets are just too expensive.

Once you've climbed out of the gravity well, pretty much the entire solar system becomes open; rockets again are practical.

They used to pay me to study far-out concepts and this is the only one I thought in the least worthwhile.

--Boris

[Paul C. Jesup]

With so much electricity and movng charges, how will radio be effected? Could this device be used as an amateur radio antenna?

I think communication will be hardwired. But somebody should call SETI.

[boris]

"Let me get this straight, you want to climb 1500km worth of stairs..."

Where did 1500 km come from?

--Boris

[RightWhale]

Once you've climbed out of the gravity well

All that is needed is for a mating pair to climb out of the gravity well, along with a freightload of starter supplies like shovels and pickaxes and dried peas. The human race can then fill the Milky Way with their foolishness while most of us sit home and watch on CNN. They could start this weekend.

[dr_lew]

I suspect we're witnessing future trends unfolding here, NASA will become more and more irrelevant. Their destiny is to be a small, but interesting, historical footnote.

Yes, as a mythical organization that supposedly put men on the moon, a feat which everyone will know is impossible.

[avg_freeper]

I enjoyed reading through "Red Mars" in the beginning. Towards the middle of the novel the author started pushing socialism heavily and bashing capitalism. When I reached the end, I was just simply happy to be done with it.

It's a pity because I liked the whole idea of the "Red Mars", "Green Mars", "Blue Mars" trilogy.

[Consort]

(Swish)

Who gets to select the elevator music?

(Swish)

[RightWhale]

the author started pushing socialism heavily

Unfortunately, such are the imaginative limits of many science fiction writers. Too much H G Wells and George Orwell in their diet.

[Paul C. Jesup]

I got it from the first post, but I was wrong, it would be 40,000km worth of stairs.

[Brett66]

Suddenly South American nations become very important to be friends with.

Here's my likely candidate:

Pico da Neblina, Brazil's highest mountain.