Schwa. Posted September 6, 2007 Report Share Posted September 6, 2007 Space elevatorA space elevator would consist of a cable anchored to the Earth's surface, reaching into space. By attaching a counterweight at the end (or by further extending the cable for the same purpose), Inertia ensures that the cable remains stretched taut, countering the gravitational pull on the lower sections, thus allowing the elevator to remain in geostationary orbit. Once beyond the gravitational midpoint, carriage would be accelerated further by the planet's rotation. Diagram not to scale.A space elevator would consist of a cable anchored to the Earth's surface, reaching into space. By attaching a counterweight at the end (or by further extending the cable for the same purpose), Inertia ensures that the cable remains stretched taut, countering the gravitational pull on the lower sections, thus allowing the elevator to remain in geostationary orbit. Once beyond the gravitational midpoint, carriage would be accelerated further by the planet's rotation. Diagram not to scale.A space elevator is a proposed megastructure designed to transport material from a celestial body's surface into space, first conceived by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky. Many different types of space elevators have been suggested. They all share the goal of replacing rocket propulsion with the traversal of a fixed structure via a mechanism not unlike an elevator in order to move material into or beyond orbit. Space elevators have also sometimes been referred to as beanstalks, space bridges, space lifts, space ladders, skyhooks or orbital towers.The most common proposal is a tether, usually in the form of a cable or ribbon, spanning from the surface to a point beyond geosynchronous orbit. As the planet rotates, the inertia at the end of the tether counteracts gravity, and also keeps the cable taut. Vehicles can then climb the tether and get in orbit without the use of rocket propulsion. Such a structure could theoretically permit delivery of cargo and people to orbit with transportation costs a fraction of those of more traditional methods of launching a payload into orbit.Recent proposals for a space elevator are notable in their plans to incorporate carbon nanotubes into the tether design, thus providing a link between space exploration and nanotechnology. Much More Detail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backbacon Posted September 6, 2007 Report Share Posted September 6, 2007 too many words, not enough photos. I'm out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baj Posted September 6, 2007 Report Share Posted September 6, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schwa. Posted September 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2007 too many words, not enough photos. I'm out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-towns Posted September 6, 2007 Report Share Posted September 6, 2007 stretched tautnuff said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backbacon Posted September 6, 2007 Report Share Posted September 6, 2007 Ooooh, now I'm intrigued. I'll put aside some time tmrw to do some reading. Maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Boy 2.0 Posted September 6, 2007 Report Share Posted September 6, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PalacePrincess Posted September 6, 2007 Report Share Posted September 6, 2007 i'm more of a space coaster kinda gal myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahbelle Posted September 6, 2007 Report Share Posted September 6, 2007 dude.. that looks badass... I'm gunna try that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamilton Posted September 7, 2007 Report Share Posted September 7, 2007 Didn't Roald Dahl already write a book about this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cully Posted September 7, 2007 Report Share Posted September 7, 2007 what happened to you at burning man? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schwa. Posted September 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2007 everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elemeno Posted September 7, 2007 Report Share Posted September 7, 2007 does "everything" include getting some stink on your johnson? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backbacon Posted September 7, 2007 Report Share Posted September 7, 2007 I'm sure that's what he wants us all to believe! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
\/\/illy Posted September 7, 2007 Report Share Posted September 7, 2007 I'm sure that's what he wants us all to believe! I'm sure that's what he wants to believe himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schwa. Posted September 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2007 i don't really understand what either of you are talking about, but i do appreciate the interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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