Menu Bar
Needs Plugin: Flash | Not Working?
NOVA scienceNOW: An Elevator to Space?
The entrepreneurs and engineers at LiftPort Group in Bremerton, Washington think space elevators aren't just a wild idea. Indeed, they've staked their corporation on the concept. In the video below, join Neil de Grasse Tyson for a hands-on look at LiftPort's efforts.
Feb 17, 2008 3:24 PM
Re: NOVA scienceNOW: An Elevator to Space?
I don't see this happening any time soon. I wasn't impressed by the thing they built that climbs up a ribon.
By: SilenTom
Re: NOVA scienceNOW: An Elevator to Space?
Well the hard part is making a cable/ribbon strong enough for the job, not the elevator.
From everything I've heard they're planning on using carbon nanotubes to construct the 22000 mile cable. Currently the longest nanotube they've been able to make is .4cm. So they just need to scale up their operation 885,139,200,000%.
From everything I've heard they're planning on using carbon nanotubes to construct the 22000 mile cable. Currently the longest nanotube they've been able to make is .4cm. So they just need to scale up their operation 885,139,200,000%.
By: slage123
Re: NOVA scienceNOW: An Elevator to Space?
The longest I've heard of is 4.0 cm. But, you wouldn't make the entire cable length a single molecule. It would be twisted from shorter strands just like rope. Also, it would likely be quite a bit longer than 22000 miles. That's just the distance to GEO and you would need more ribbon to counterbalance the weight beyond that. An elevator on the moon would be more feasible (in theory) because of the lower gravity, less debri and no grounding issues.
By: Hummm
