SPACE ELEVATOR FIRST FLOOR 22,000 MILES UP

Down at the shop making a side frame, the largest and most complex component, for the NASA space elevator competition. I'm part of a large team that is building a "Space Elevator." A space elevator is an idea that has been around for almost 150 years! What one does is string out a very, very long "rope" from the earth 60,000 miles. The rotation of the earth keeps the "rope" in tension, then you simply climb up it to get into space. Kind of like Jack and the Beanstalk, and that is another name for it.

I'm responsible for designing and making most of the hardware for our entry.

Eventualy, if humanity can make materials strong enough, the first elevator cars will be about the size of the one we're building for the competition, as the rope has to start small and then gets added to. Some day, these things could lift cargo as large as ships into space.

More vids to come, especialy when we start getting the lasers!

more on the competition:

www.elevator2010.org

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• space
• elevator
• machine
• machining
• robot
• program
• programing
• metal

[MrJuno6]

Why a "guidance system" its just a lift is it not ? which seems to imply just up and down.

[yamahaeleven]

@MrJuno6

The vehicle rotates and undergoes various oscillations along with the cable, and the lasers aren't directly in line of the climber's travel. A guidance system for the laser is mandatory to compensate and keep the beam accurately on the receiver cells.

[cpisretartedmuch]

i hate whiteys

[yamahaeleven]

Yeah, they seem to be stale often.

[curvygirl1123]

so if the first floor is 22 thousand miles above the earth were would the 11th floor be

[yamahaeleven]

Kuiper belt.

[BaronVonKenny]

the empire state building is stable enough for space man, didn't you see that documentary where the giant peach landed on top of it? If that dont knock it down, then the moon aint got shit on it man!

[BaronVonKenny]

You are very stupid if you believe my comment was serious, I was joking around. This guy is a psycho, look at his other vids, I bet he broke into this place to film it.

[curvygirl1123]

thankyou

[ogicabp4u]

no it doesnt. Do the maths...this is simple trigonometry. Its better nearer the equator but it does not have to be on it by any means!

[nazsh11]

22,000 is a geosyncronous orbit, thats what would give it the most stability. but any kind of structural failure would be catastrophic on both ends.

[CreamyGoodness47]

fffaaaagggg