Space Elevators

Hank talks about space elevators, and why we shouldn't expect to see one any time soon.

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References for this episode can be found in the Google document here: http://dft.ba/-33cf

• Category

  Education

[rhysryan1234]

can you do an episode on carbon Nano tubes or the evolution of virus' and bacteria

completely unrelated i know

[TheRadrussian1]

im sure hes sorry for having his own personality.

[TheScaper28]

You don't know how the earth moves over a process of a year, do you.

[DanatronOne]

it would have to orbit, and a polar orbit will not be in the same area over the land like a geostationary orbit would, and if it didn't orbit, it would simply fall down and crush a bunch of polar bears :( nice idea though!

[James Chua]

why do you need to put the elevator on the equator if you can put it on the northpole so it wont rotate as earth rotate? :D

[halovscod2022]

Dude please stop trying to sound like a douche.

[amymv74]

You just said a super secret thing

[Willoughby Krenzteinburg]

You are right about the elevator needing to be at the equator. However, you are mistaken in assuming people don't think about this. It is fundamental to the design. A space elevator can only exist at the equator since it will extend through geostationary orbit, and geostationary orbit can only exist at the equator. A space elevator is fundamentally impossible anywhere other than the equator.

[George Penwarden]

Something people don't tend to think about space tethers is location. You'd best do it on the equator. Saves length, and things can then just go straight up. If you take the other extreme (the poles) then the tether would start horizontally compared to the surface. Not as efficient.

[MoreParksLessParking]

Can you do an episode on the idea of creating the new epoch "anthropocene". Since humans have now become one of the most dominant forces shaping our planet, many scientists have suggested creating the start of a new epoch called the anthropocene.

[starfyredragon]

1. Counterweight idea is old hat at this point. No heavy weight on the end needed, instead, cable is just extended further. No harnessed asteroids, makes launching into deeper space much cheaper.

2. Carbon nanotubes are only one of three major materials. Graphene is an option too, and has already hit mass-producable technology as of feburary 2013.

3. Things are looking so good, timeframes are getting moved down to closer to now. Russia & US talking 2020-2035 now.

[CuttlefishPi]

I am guessing that it would be negligible.