Does anyone know why it would have to be on a mobile sea base? That’s a new one on me. Everything I’ve read says that it would be anchored on land, at the equator. (Ecuador and Kenya are frequently mentioned as bases.)
I would have thought the best place would be a high altitude airship (airplatform). Less technical difficulties with creating such a thing and less difficulties with the elevator passing through less atmosphere.
My hope would be that they would include a bit of retro kitch, like a mouthy young elevator operator who would make continuous annoncements like “576,321st floor, Communications satellites, antique Sputniks, laser weapons platforms and ladies shoes. All out please.”
Several authors have used the trope; Sir Arthur of course, Kim Stanley Robinson put one on Mars for his colonists, I’m just now reading a Joe Haldeman (Marsbound , first of a trilogy); his is based on or near the Galapagos, West of Ecuador. Actually, there’s a bunch in fiction.In the Real World, the preliminary engineering work is underway (see Space Elevator Ref. ) and has annual conferences. Strength of materials is now the main limiting factor.The reason for the counterweight is to keep the ‘beanstalk’ taut (ahem, rather than teach it anything)…
The “Rockiteers” are young people, right? Why is someone as obviously evil as Dr. Mel invited to address such a group? Might as well have Charles Manson come to the local Cub Scout troop.
They would make it like a Disney ride . . . filled with animatronic birds, flowers and other props, singing and talking. Like the Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland.
The space elevator won’t work as there will be no change in angular momentum as the elevator rises (without side-thrusting rockets) thus it will slow down in the horizontal direction, dragging the counterweight out of orbit and CRASHING – ta ta.
Climbing a space elevator drains the earth’s rotational energy by an infinitesimal amount. The more we use it, the longer a day becomes (making leap seconds more frequent). On that note, the moon is doing something similar, and moving away from the earth.
Expect the speed of climb to increase as the elevator rises and “weight” has less effect… Imagine a late afternoon “Launch” so you could initially watch the scenery as you climbed into the sky, then a very long amazing sunset before the “curve” of the Earth came into view…
RE: Robinson, he actually wrote a chapter in Liftports Book: Opening Space To Everyone http://is.gd/gHJEPt explaining the reasons that the Mars series is far different from a Lunar elevator!
RE: Using Geo vs. 60,000 miles:1. The Center of Mass is in the same point with both.2. There are trade offs in having a larger mass (asteroid) at the end of a shorter line vs. a much longer line with a man-made object at the end…
margueritem over 11 years ago
Oh, that would be torture of the most painful sort.
Bilan over 11 years ago
Didn’t they say that in space no one can hear Muzak?
luckylouie over 11 years ago
Does anyone know why it would have to be on a mobile sea base? That’s a new one on me. Everything I’ve read says that it would be anchored on land, at the equator. (Ecuador and Kenya are frequently mentioned as bases.)
cloa513 over 11 years ago
I would have thought the best place would be a high altitude airship (airplatform). Less technical difficulties with creating such a thing and less difficulties with the elevator passing through less atmosphere.
frumdebang over 11 years ago
Good time to buy stock in carbon nanotubes.
McSpook over 11 years ago
My hope would be that they would include a bit of retro kitch, like a mouthy young elevator operator who would make continuous annoncements like “576,321st floor, Communications satellites, antique Sputniks, laser weapons platforms and ladies shoes. All out please.”
Coyoty Premium Member over 11 years ago
A space escalator would be more interesting. What do you mean it’s not possible? You’re not buying a stairway to Heaven?
pbarnrob over 11 years ago
Several authors have used the trope; Sir Arthur of course, Kim Stanley Robinson put one on Mars for his colonists, I’m just now reading a Joe Haldeman (Marsbound , first of a trilogy); his is based on or near the Galapagos, West of Ecuador. Actually, there’s a bunch in fiction.In the Real World, the preliminary engineering work is underway (see Space Elevator Ref. ) and has annual conferences. Strength of materials is now the main limiting factor.The reason for the counterweight is to keep the ‘beanstalk’ taut (ahem, rather than teach it anything)…
justalurkr over 11 years ago
Beautifully simple explanation of the concept, with one egregious misspelling ( that I caught.)
rugeirn over 11 years ago
The “Rockiteers” are young people, right? Why is someone as obviously evil as Dr. Mel invited to address such a group? Might as well have Charles Manson come to the local Cub Scout troop.
marty1192 over 11 years ago
Are we there yet? Are we there yet?Are we there yet?Are we there yet?…
corzak over 11 years ago
They would make it like a Disney ride . . . filled with animatronic birds, flowers and other props, singing and talking. Like the Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland.
pcolli over 11 years ago
“Up, up and away in my beautiful space elevator…”
GoodQuestion Premium Member over 11 years ago
I think audiobooks could fill the void . . say Gilbert Gottfried reading War & Peace to pass the time . . . . ☻
ckham over 11 years ago
So, my question would be which fire department will come and rescue you if you push the alarm button?
SplashPal over 11 years ago
The space elevator won’t work as there will be no change in angular momentum as the elevator rises (without side-thrusting rockets) thus it will slow down in the horizontal direction, dragging the counterweight out of orbit and CRASHING – ta ta.
stuart over 11 years ago
Climbing a space elevator drains the earth’s rotational energy by an infinitesimal amount. The more we use it, the longer a day becomes (making leap seconds more frequent). On that note, the moon is doing something similar, and moving away from the earth.
dumbbobsbrother over 11 years ago
The horror, the horror.
CaptD over 11 years ago
Expect the speed of climb to increase as the elevator rises and “weight” has less effect… Imagine a late afternoon “Launch” so you could initially watch the scenery as you climbed into the sky, then a very long amazing sunset before the “curve” of the Earth came into view…
CaptD over 11 years ago
Salute to Tim Rickard…Hope you will consider a iMac version of your eBook and or a kindle version…
CaptD over 11 years ago
Nice posting…
RE: Robinson, he actually wrote a chapter in Liftports Book: Opening Space To Everyone http://is.gd/gHJEPt explaining the reasons that the Mars series is far different from a Lunar elevator!
RE: Using Geo vs. 60,000 miles:1. The Center of Mass is in the same point with both.2. There are trade offs in having a larger mass (asteroid) at the end of a shorter line vs. a much longer line with a man-made object at the end…
CaptD over 11 years ago
Please see my reply below…
I’m sorry we can’t put comments where they belong!