The Space Elevator

The Space Elevator, animated in this video as envisioned by Bradley Edwards, the most current proponent of this means of getting into space cheaply.

The initial research behind this video was funded by the NASA Institute of Advanced Concepts.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• space
• elevator
• carbon
• fiber
• aviation
• mechanics
• electronics

[guglieblue]

@Summon256 pushing alarm button: "hem, houston... we've had a problem!

We're stuck between 5500000000 and 5500000001 floor..."

[mynamesrickjames]

space elevator music...

[PirateDion]

@lolsamlolsam People would probably die?

The only way it would fall is if the cable snapped. And worst case scenario is if it snapped right at the base of the counter weight. If it snapped within Earth's atmosphere they could potentially use emergency measures to send the counterweight away from earth's orbit, preventing it from plummeting into earth.

[PirateDion]

@2slow4u2 The object it connects to wouldn't be orbiting per-say. It'd be using the centripetal force of earth rotating. Just need a heavy enough counterweight on the other end to keep the line tight.

[PirateDion]

@DavidB1001 The wiki on it estimates that instead of 1000+ $ per pound to go into space it would be significantly reduced to 100-200 $ per pound. Not to mention the weight of the fuel to get into space would be unnecessary so the 1000+ per pound is probably being really conservative with the numbers.

And in all honesty it shouldn't be too hard to build in our life time. Supposing funding gets on it's way. Just a matter of mass producing the carbon nanofibers and finding a means of building it.

[DavidB1001]

@sherrypie63 Destroying the Earth implies it cannot support life or it has been reduced to dust. If we did that, you could not have posted that message. :)

[DavidB1001]

@PirateDion I'm not certain myself, I just hope I'll be still alive when it's built. Because the technology may be a long ways off. :)

I hope it does happen though. We could use it well as a launching platform into space exploration.

[PirateDion]

@DavidB1001 Yeah looked into it more. They're essentially using a massive counterweight and using centripetal force via the earth's rotation. Just a matter of getting the materials to make the wire. I'm still curious though as to how the transition between the atmosphere would work. Have it all on a space craft and lower it into the atmosphere? Or shoot a rocket into space with the cable trailing behind?

I think they would have to split the load somehow. Weight would be to go to space with it.

[charlies6906]

can you belive their making this

[charlies6906]

hi



[DavidB1001]

@PirateDion To be fair, after a certain distance, wind is not an issue. :)

However, this is theoretically possible with enough advances in carbon fiber nanotubes. That and possibly using silksteel, which combines the strengths of steel and spider silk, and it will actually be done. It's all a matter of getting the right materials and mass producing them. Then we can finally get into space again.

[w00tbeerisgood]

@mynamesrickjames the glitch mob. Fuck yeah.