I work at NASA, and we are developing an inflatable bridge to the moon. We have a long tube (40 miles or so) and are building supports to point it at the moon. So far it works, but seems to be a little short. One of our professors says the moon is much further than 40 miles, but he has shares in the tube factory, and I think he is just trying to push sales. I think I will get out the Apollo 11 file and check the odometer on the lunar landers speedo. Maybe that will help.
2007-05-21 09:55:24
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answer #1
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answered by john r 3
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Even with the Moon 40 miles away (from Earth's surface, I suppose?), it still whips around so that the bridge would have to spin once around the Earth in 24h48m (you can see that the Moon rises or sets later every day).
So, the bridge would have to be built at the pole and mounted on a giant swivel so that it always faces the Moon. If the Moon is 40 mi. above Earth's equator, then it is 40 + 6260 = 6300 mi from the pole. That would be quite a bridge.
The estimated toll, at $5 per mi. would be over $30,000 (for cars, much more for trucks and buses). Double that if you bring your trailer or your boat.
Then you have the problem that every hour, the direction of the bridge changes by 14.5 degrees. In which direction do you build the approach road? I can hear the endless international discussions:
-The road should lead to our country.
-No it should lead to ours.
-No, you had it last time when we made a tunnel to Mars...
I think they should build a canal instead. We could then send ships (and lots of water, as the Moon does appear dry).
2007-05-21 18:06:58
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answer #2
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answered by Raymond 7
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Honestly, that will never happen. The moon is far beyond 40 miles away, if so then we could see the moon basically every hour of the day. The price of building this would be so big that many countries would have to chip in. That definitely won't happen because of all the issues we have in the world country vs. country.
And also, the moon moves if you haven't noticed. Many people don't realize that the moon and the earth move so fast that if we were to try and put a stationary object (i.e. a bridge) how would we know if the materials would hold up??? sure there is no wind in space but still...
Lastly, I don't see you getting your tools, a crew, and billions of dollars together to build this bridge... so I guess NASA will get around to it around the time you do.
2007-05-21 17:22:08
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answer #3
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answered by kkayperr 2
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Yeah like the others have said, its about 240,000 miles away, so a bridge will never happen.
Even If the materials were strong enough and we had enough of them (which they aren't and we don't) there's another reason: the moon isn't always at a fixed point in space relative to Earth. Thats why its seen to move in the sky. So the link to Earth would have to move with it.
Interestingly enough though, a ladder straight up into space is possible, again if materials were strong enough, and, wearing an oxygen mask and other protective equipment, you could theoretically just climb up into near space without a rocket. There isn't actually such a thing as "escape velocity", rockets just travel so fast as it allows them to carry less fuel and to attain a high travelling speed once they reach space.
2007-05-21 17:20:33
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answer #4
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answered by Dave K 2
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The moon is 250,000 miles away. Steel can only support its own weight for something like a 2000 mile span. Any bridge built would collapse under its own weight
2007-05-22 07:24:13
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answer #5
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answered by The Tenth Duke of Chalfont 4
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Actually, a feasability study in 1998 showed that it would be too expensive because it would have to be a drawbridge to allow the alien spacecraft to pass. Otherwise, we'd be building it right now.
Actually, they built a tunnel FROM France, to facilitate their speedy retreat should there ever be another war with Germany.
2007-05-21 16:52:23
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answer #6
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answered by TS 2
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Your question as written doesn't make sense. But there HAS been some speculation about an elevator to a geosynchronous point in space, which, after is was built would make all space flight much cheaper.
2007-05-21 17:07:02
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answer #7
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answered by rhino9joe 5
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You`re absolutely right Seigfried ! I`ve been wondering about that myself for some time now . Seems to me they`re a bunch of slackers over there at NASA !
Tell you what ............... I can tell by your suggestion you`ve obviously got a degree in engineering , so why not get hold of NASA and offer your services to get them moving on this ? You could probably supervise the entire project .
Let us know what they say ..................
2007-05-21 18:43:30
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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but the moon is orbeting the earth so the bridge enterence would be moving. it is more then 40 miles. the cost would be too much.
2007-05-21 16:54:13
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answer #9
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answered by Mr. Smith 5
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Great trick question, HAL. Good one.
I'm going to check back to see how many people got it, how many call you stupid, and how many correct your assumption the moon is only 40 miles away (I wonder how you came up with that figure by the way).
2007-05-21 18:17:45
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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