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The Space Elevator
The Space Elevator will reduce the cost of getting from earth to space. It will also allow us to take very large payloads into space very easily, very safely. Because of that, we can build cities on the moon. We can build space stations. We can build large solar arrays in space to collect energy from the sun and beam it down to earth.
How would space elevator affect the average person?
Through for example much faster telecommunication rates -- you can have any kind of data rates you want, and videophones will be as common as a cell phone. And the solar power energy we'll collect can relieve our dependence on oil. That in itself will change a lot of things it will reduce pollution and it will change world politics, hopefully even stopping some of the conflicts.
How would space elevator affect the average person?
Through for example much faster telecommunication rates -- you can have any kind of data rates you want, and videophones will be as common as a cell phone. And the solar power energy we'll collect can relieve our dependence on oil. That in itself will change a lot of things it will reduce pollution and it will change world politics, hopefully even stopping some of the conflicts.
Jul 13, 2008 10:12 AM
Re: The Space Elevator
I dont doubt they could make this scientifically some day, but its just seems like such a monumental task it boggles my mind.
By: hypersapien
Re: The Space Elevator
Apparently, Trotsky wanted Russia to build a space elevator. I guess he understood the long-term benefits, even then. Certainly makes sense when you consider the price of gas these days.
By: EViLMinD
Re: The Space Elevator
Neil deGrasse Tyson is brilliant.
Relates (and shameless self-promotion): http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/93254/detail/
Relates (and shameless self-promotion): http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/93254/detail/
By: spam_vigilante
Re: The Space Elevator
It's closer than it might seem (decades not centuries). The biggest technical challenge is not the hardware, it's social considerations.
Who pays for and controls it? Would we need more than one? How can such elevators be protected from attack? A few thousand dollars of explosive anywhere along the tether can potentially send a few trillion dollars of elevator hurtling into the void.
I have no doubt the hardware challenges can be solved, but will our society be ready to build and keep it?
Who pays for and controls it? Would we need more than one? How can such elevators be protected from attack? A few thousand dollars of explosive anywhere along the tether can potentially send a few trillion dollars of elevator hurtling into the void.
I have no doubt the hardware challenges can be solved, but will our society be ready to build and keep it?
By: loqi
Re: The Space Elevator
As to who builds it, I REALLY hope this can be achieved without government involvement. This is also our best chance of getting more space elevators because there is no way the market will allow one single operator to monopolize space travel, mining and other potential riches.
The fact that we as humans even have to worry about people blowing up something like this is just so sad and pathetic that I wonder if we shouldn't just go ahead and build an elevator to the sun and all go there.
The fact that we as humans even have to worry about people blowing up something like this is just so sad and pathetic that I wonder if we shouldn't just go ahead and build an elevator to the sun and all go there.
By: phonkey
