How could a space Elevator be Possible without being destroyed by earth's Atmospheric pressure and heat?

Answer 1

Atmospheric pressure and heat would have little to no effect on a space elevator. The pressure concerns would be the same as with any mission outside our atmosphere. As far as heat goes, I think a slow and steady reentry would be relatively cool compared to crashing in with a shuttle or capsule.

The space elevator looks to be the key to the new space age. It looks like the first functional one will be in use in the next 15 years. After that we will be a space faring people. Even if its just the inner solar system for a while.

Answer 2

Atmospoheric pressure isn't really that destructive at low speeds. The problem with most vehicles is they must enter the atmosphere at tens of thousands of miles per hour. This speed throught the atmosphere creates tremendous amounts of heat.

The space elevators will be traveling much much slower (tens or maybe hundreds of MPH at the most), and thus won't have to worry about heat shielding from atmospheric re-entry.

Read the link below about atmospheric reentry and the one on the space elevator so you can see how they differ and how the space elevator isn't subject to the same heat problems something like the space shuttle or any other re-entry vehicle would have.

Hope that helps!

Answer 3

The "car" of a space elevator won't be travelling at anything like the velocities of current spacecraft, therefore the heat associated with re-entry will not be a problem. Going up or down at only a few tens to a few hundred meters per second will not generate atmospheric friction at the levels current ships do (which travel at thousands of meters per second).

As for the pressures - obviously the cars will have to be more akin to space "capsules" than to normal elevator cars - sealed in much the same way a current human-payload carrying container (the shuttle, or a space capsule) are sealed.

Answer 4

An Elevator to Space, while possible, is highly unlikely. Due primarily to cost issues.

But to answer your question, I believe that the heat generated in a atmospheric transition is a result of the velocity of the vessel (elevator) itself. I would think that the velocity of an elevator to get you to space would have to be traveling very fast.

A thermal barrier, such as ceramic tiles could be placed on the leading edge of the vessel (elevator) to divert or distribute the heat caused by atmospheric frictional heating.

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

A space elevator would have to have a cable between the earth and somewhere up there.
The top of the cable would be in high orbit the earth end would be in low orbit.
The earth would wind the cable around itself.

Answer 6

I don't think that the elevator will have any problem with going in and out of the atmosphere. I think that the real problem will be the cost. Not only will it cost billions to build, it will cost billions upon billions to maintain (repair, and keep strong). Bye!!!