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Do you think we'll see a space elevator within our lifetimes?
Posted on 11/8/16 at 10:58 am
Posted on 11/8/16 at 10:58 am
We have the technology to build habitats in space and they don't need to be overly complicated like the ISS. The biggest problem preventing this is obviously the massive cost to get anything going fast enough to break the Earth's gravity.
Probably the most reasonable solution is the space elevator, a structure that links the Earth to an endpoint in orbit.
LINK
Do you think we'll ever see one in our lifetimes? Or do you think some other Earth to space solution comes along before then? If we keep the status quo then we'll never develop spaceflight like we should.
Probably the most reasonable solution is the space elevator, a structure that links the Earth to an endpoint in orbit.
LINK
Do you think we'll ever see one in our lifetimes? Or do you think some other Earth to space solution comes along before then? If we keep the status quo then we'll never develop spaceflight like we should.
9
Posted on 11/8/16 at 11:00 am to DavidTheGnome
my biochemistry prof claimed to be working on it and that over a decade ago
so...maybe?
so...maybe?
Posted on 11/8/16 at 11:02 am to DavidTheGnome
I think there is a material limits for the tension required to maintain that long of a connection over that distance.
Drill strings have trouble in distances of a few miles.
The forces would be tremendous.
Drill strings have trouble in distances of a few miles.
The forces would be tremendous.
Posted on 11/8/16 at 11:03 am to DavidTheGnome
quote:
Do you think we'll see a space elevator within our lifetimes?
We'll eventually see a massive network of them, creating spokes all around the planet and connecting to an artificial "ring" around the Earth used for research.
Posted on 11/8/16 at 11:04 am to DavidTheGnome
What's the point of that design? Just to go up, see space, and come back down?
Posted on 11/8/16 at 11:04 am to AndyCBR
Carbon nanotubes are one idea floated around to solve that.
Posted on 11/8/16 at 11:05 am to DavidTheGnome
quote:
Carbon nanotubes are one idea floated around to solve that.
buckyballs
Posted on 11/8/16 at 11:05 am to AndyCBR
A carbon nanotube cable could possibly withstand the forces. Who knows
ETA: damn im late to the nanotube party
ETA: damn im late to the nanotube party
This post was edited on 11/8/16 at 11:07 am
Posted on 11/8/16 at 11:07 am to junkfunky
quote:
What's the point of that design? Just to go up, see space, and come back down?
No of course not. The point being to transport mass outside of Earth's gravity well cheaply. When we solve this it opens up the solar system to exploration for us.
I think investment in a cheap method to space would pay for itself relatively quickly if we could mine just a single asteroid. They're basically solid metal and worth trillions or more a piece.
Posted on 11/8/16 at 11:08 am to DavidTheGnome
Now I haven't taken physics in... a long time... but would that slow down the Earth's rotation? Even just a minute amount?
Posted on 11/8/16 at 11:17 am to LSUBoo
quote:
Now I haven't taken physics in... a long time... but would that slow down the Earth's rotation? Even just a minute amount?
The amount of atmospheric wind resistance wouldn't be that great and the point in space is geostationary therefore not providing a counter force to the Earth's rotation
Posted on 11/8/16 at 11:49 am to DavidTheGnome
Imagine the first time that thing breaks and the elevator plummets to earth at terminal velocity, turning everyone inside into pink dust only after forcing them to endure the closest possible thing to hell on this earth, a 6 minute descent into their death while they contemplate life and their imminent departure inside the steel tomb...
No thanks.
No thanks.
Posted on 11/8/16 at 12:30 pm to DavidTheGnome
You know, maybe we're not seeing heaven because one of us is a J-O-O.
Posted on 11/8/16 at 12:36 pm to DavidTheGnome
Well where's it at? The diagram shows it going nowhere. Mine actually puts us on the moon.
Posted on 11/8/16 at 12:37 pm to AndyCBR
I never thought I'd see high speed porn on a phone in my lifetime, so anything is possible
Posted on 11/8/16 at 12:38 pm to King Teal
quote:
Imagine the first time that thing breaks and the elevator plummets to earth at terminal velocity, turning everyone inside into pink dust only after forcing them to endure the closest possible thing to hell on this earth, a 6 minute descent into their death while they contemplate life and their imminent departure inside the steel tomb...
No thanks.
Well, depending on where it breaks, they might fly off into space instead.
Posted on 11/8/16 at 12:40 pm to DavidTheGnome
How old are you? Probably not in my lifetime. 60 years, maybe.
Posted on 11/8/16 at 12:54 pm to DavidTheGnome
quote:
Or do you think some other Earth to space solution comes along before then?
Space X is already landing rockets.
I think that is gonna be viable way before some elevator
Posted on 11/8/16 at 1:31 pm to DavidTheGnome
Posted on 11/8/16 at 1:42 pm to King Teal
quote:
Imagine the first time that thing breaks and the elevator plummets to earth at terminal velocity, turning everyone inside into pink dust only after forcing them to endure the closest possible thing to hell on this earth, a 6 minute descent into their death while they contemplate life and their imminent departure inside the steel tomb...
Or they could drift off into space with enough oxygen to really let things sink in. Meanwhile back on earth, countless numbers of people are being ripped in half by the cables and crushed by debris.
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