Could they make an elevator to the moon, how would it work?

Question

Arthur c Clarke thinks they can

Also in science magazine, popular science
whats up with that?

Answer 1

Bang, zoom!

One of these days Alice, one of these days...

Answer 2

Arthur C. Clarke envisioned an elevator to *space* (orbit), not the moon.

1) The moon rotates around the earth. So there is no point on the earth that is permanently under the moon ... so there is no place to put the base of a moon-elevator.

2) The moon is *much* further than we normally go in space. He was talking only about an elevator that would take people and supplies to a station in orbit around the earth.

I enclose the NASA page on the idea.

Answer 3

An elevator to a "geosynchronous" point (23,000 miles up) is a possibility, since that point would be "fixed" about the same spot on earth (equator only BTW).

If you put an elevastor to the moon, you could only use it once every 28.xxx days, since the moon and the "top" would not occupy the same place in the sky.

Float a satellite 23,000 miles up and connect it to the earth with a band of monomolecular ribbon, upon which a "crawler" would squeeze rollers hooked to electric motors running either "UP" or "DOWN" and the "crawler" would carry people/cargo to and from the satellite/space-station.

It's cool idea, and Clarke was an incredible visionary

cite:
Researchers estimate that a space elevator capable of lifting 5-ton payloads every day to low Earth orbits could be operational in 15 years. From this first orbit, the costs to go on the moon, Mars, Venus, or the asteroids would be reduced dramatically. The first space elevator is projected to reduce lift costs immediately to $100 per pound, as compared to current launch costs of $10,000-$40,000 per pound, depending upon destination and choice of rocket-launch system. Additional and larger elevators, built utilizing the first, would allow large-scale manned and commercial activities in space and reduce lift costs even further.

Answer 4

Well considering that the moon is orbiting around the earth it would be hard to attach an elevator to a non-fixed object. Also the orbit of the moon is not circular, but eliptical so the elevator would not only have to move but adjust its length according to the distance. Also it would need to be made of increadibly strong and incredibly light material. Obviously the answer is no and Mr Clarke is a nut case. Unless of course you are actually talking about an accelerator launch ramp to assistant space ships into orbit, then that migh be possible.

Answer 5

I don't know who Arthur C. Clarke is, but I do not think he is very smart. Ask him how it would work. If he can make the statement he thinks they can, then surely, he has some plans of some kind for this. Put him back in his cell.

Answer 6

Just the same way that it does on Earth, but it would need smaller motors to do the same job as it would be working against only a fifth of the gravity, although it would still have the same mass to accelerate and decelerate as on earth.

Answer 7

it would be a great idea.1 could go 2 moon 4 an evening walk.

Answer 8

I would fantasize more on: "Beam me up Scotty"

Answer 9

theres no chance of that happening

Answer 10

i don't think it'll work