If the third time is the charm, yet you botch that attempt just like the earlier two, then what? That's the problem facing NASA and its
Space Elevator Challenge, which has for three successive years failed to live up to the vision of Arthur C. Clarke. Japan isn't waiting for a fourth, announcing plans to spend $7.3 billion on its own lift to whisk passengers (and cargo) 22,000 miles aloft on composite cables. It's the cables that are the problem, as they need to be 180 times stronger than steel and obviously much, much lighter. The Japanese are focusing on
carbon nanotubes, and while they will need to be engineered four times stronger than current stock before they're up to the task, their highly conductive nature means they can not only support the lift vehicle but also power it. Useful, that, because the ride up could take a
couple of days or even weeks, and astronauts will need some way to recharge their PMPs.
posted September 24th 2008 9:53AM
seeing that we can't keep two chu chu trains from colliding, this seems like a bad idea :)
Will that affect the rotation of the earth?
I worry, even a very minor effect on the rotation would cause huge changes in the eco system.
:(
I wonder if they wil put glowing numbers in that thing.
My biggest fear is having to listen to elevator music for the several days of the journey........
this remind you of Gundam 00 ???
^^ ys it does :) will this come with gundams to defend it as well? :P
Please, I built this as a science project when I was in fifth grade......of course it was only ten inches tall...but whatever.
Am I the only one here almost rooting for said construction, if ever realised, to come crashing down JUST to see what precisely happens to the best part of 22,000 miles worth of string?
He who dares, wins.
Given that the typical US reaction to any major advance or large-scale science is sheer terror and religious dread, is it any wonder we're falling behind?
Such intellectual cowardice is a disgrace.
Required reading:
Arthur C Clark: Fountains of Paradise (About Space Elevator)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fountains_of_Paradise
I seem to remember them addressing almost every objection and concern in this thread, with the possible exception of the Gundam,
whatever that is.
What happens if this thing breaks in half? Will this cable whip around the world from Japan to LA or NYC and destroy millions of people? Think about it: 22,000 miles of ultra strong cable (180 times strength to that of steal) could possibly eliminate a whole city in the wake of its trajectory slicing skyscrapers like butter! I'm not trying to sound pessimistic just realistic.
One may say that destruction on this great scale would be impossible. Then again, look at the titanic. Look at wall street and the US economy.
People and top professionals say this will never happen, "it will be safe".. well think again.. reevaluate. make absolute sure you know what you are getting yourself into.
I'm a pure, born and bred Japanese. Don't worry, no one in my country is actually dumb enough to do this for real and think they actually succeed.