Do you think its feasible or feasible soon? If so, do you think it will or should be constructed and when? 15-20 years? Our lifetimes?
http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/space_elevator_020327-1.html
2007-07-23 05:06:00 · 6 answers · asked by Zen Pirate 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
It is much farther off, we don't have the space program to build such a thing, but it would be great to have it. I'm hoping we can develop an anti-gravity device that will render it useless.
2007-07-23 05:08:59 · answer #1 · answered by Steve C 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Depends on how much we invest in developing the materials; if the carbon nano-tubules can be developed and are as strong in fact as in theory, it could be very feasible within, I'd guess, 30-40 years. I think there are a 100 problems or more that we probably won't know about until we try it, but we definitely should try it.
2007-07-23 05:12:16 · answer #2 · answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The big technical hurdle would be materials science. We simply don't currently have the capability to make materials to construct a space elevator from that would withstand the forces such a structure would have.
Our best line of research is with carbon nano-tubes. If we could make these tubes long enough, and cheaply enough, it would have the necessary strength.
2007-07-23 05:18:39 · answer #3 · answered by Egghead 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think Arthur C. Clark was the first one mentioning it ?
challenging
its believed that it'll not work with all current materials we are able to build larger structures with.
Just latest nanotube-carbon-something-stuff was somewhat strong enough to allow building such a thing.
If you solved the founding problem, you not only need to solve the construction, you also need to solve what might happens if your Zillion-dollar toy gets out of control for whatever reason, and who pays the bill if the structure smacks down along a long portion of the equator.
however it offers an easy way into space, but i think its impossible to create one.
2007-07-23 06:04:00 · answer #4 · answered by blondnirvana 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a terrific idea. Once operational, it will save energy getting cargo and eventually people into orbit. Payloads of greater volume and mass will be supported by it. It may be built in 20 years.
2007-07-23 05:29:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that it is a long way off, and by then there might be another technology that would make it obsolete.
2007-07-23 06:35:59 · answer #6 · answered by Challenger 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋