So today I learned that NASA is in the planning stage of building a multi billion dollar Elevator into space. Sound stupid right? Well its true according to NASA it will only cost around $500 per person and be finished when now, current teens, are in their 50's. Sounds REALLY cool but is it possible? What do you think?
2006-10-19 01:47:27 · 8 answers · asked by Bar19one 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Yes, it is possible. But a very strong cable would be needed. The recent development of carbon nanotubes may make a strong enough cable a possibility. Not a certainty, but a possibility.
2006-10-19 02:26:52 · answer #1 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We do not have the necessary technology to build a space elevator yet. In particular the material science is not there yet. The tension on the tether would be astoundingly huge. No material we make today could handle it without snapping. Carbon nanotubes are probably what would be necessary but we currently cannot make them very long and certainly nowhere near getting it to space. Then you have to consider how to make the car climb the cable. Remember, a space elevator is anchored on the other end in a geostationary position. That is roughly 22,000 miles from the earth. So, if the car climbed at 1,000 miles per hour (faster than any commercial plane flies) the trip would take near a day. Presumably it'd go slow in the atmosphere then accelerate to high speed once out of the atmosphere. So what do you use? Rockets? Traction motor? Such a thing would be very cool but we are far from being able to build one even if someone wanted to spend the money.
2016-05-22 01:44:23 · answer #2 · answered by Claire 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would be a 23,000 mile long tower attatched to a several thousand ton anchor just beyong geosynchronous orbit.
It's not likely to happen. The tower would be long enough to wrap around the earth if it ever broke loose from it's anchor, causing a disaster of biblical proportions. Controlling the oscillations would be a real bear too.
Arthur Clarke wrote a good story about a tower like that. "Fountains of Paradise"
Some folks have thought about building a ring city 23,000 miles up attatched to Earth by a bunch of those towers around the planet..
2006-10-19 05:01:59 · answer #3 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I heard about this too. That is really cool. I hope I am around long enough to take at least one trip to space. I'm currently 18 so I should have a lot more years left. That's really exciting. I would definitely pay $500 for that. It is totally worth it!!
2006-10-19 02:52:49 · answer #4 · answered by Krissy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Satellite elongation into a true sky hook" was published in 1960. It would have a center of gravity at 22,400 miles. We may not ever build it but we probably will put smaller rotating structures in space with elevators on them. They will provide artificial gravity.
2006-10-19 03:18:21 · answer #5 · answered by Fredrick Carley 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hope so, it would be really interesting to watch our planet from heaven..
2006-10-20 13:01:53 · answer #6 · answered by kitty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yup and it will have 45,567 stops on the way up.
2006-10-19 03:06:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
HUH?!? where did you read this ??!!!??
2006-10-19 01:57:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋