What is the latest development on the space elevator?

Question

This is a strand of Carbon nanotubes that a vehicle could be clamped to and drive up to a geosynchronous orbital platform.

Answer 1

Also called a Jacob's Ladder or beanstalk, the idea of a space elevator is a popular one in some science fiction circles. Heinlein used them in Friday.

A Jacob's Ladder doesn't require a strand of carbon nanotubes, however. It requires an enormous number of them. Some engineers have calculated that barring some new advance in materials science, a Jacob's Ladder would have to be a mile in diameter at the base to safely anchor it to the Earth. That's a lot of nanotubes.

Personally, at this point in time, I prefer a mass driver for freight launch. We already have the technology for a mass driver: in Japan and Europe it's being used to run MagLev trains. All we need is space in a mountain range for a very long tube, and a nuclear pile to power it. In The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Heinlein suggested western China or the Andes as launch points, but I'm thinking the southern Rockies would work as well. It's not much farther north than Florida, and we've been launching geostationary satellites out of Florida for half a century.

Answer 2

none. carbon nanotubes we can make are still not strong enough... Wait a few years, we might have the materials, then...

But even then, you'd still have to make enough of it and put it into orbit... plus, with terrorists all over the place, it would be an ideal target for terror.

if you haven't read it yet, read the wikipedia article and the links given in it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator

Answer 3

LOL! Never heard of one... sounds like something out of Star Trek.

Answer 4

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator

Answer 5

Try www.spaceelevator.com for info, discussion etc.,