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Posted: 18-12-2002 20:56 Post subject: Space Elevator??

Heard a news programme on Radio 4 the other day talking about the feasibility of the Space Elevator.

Anyone heard of this before? Think it was in one of Arthur C Clarkes Oddessey books.....

Posted: 18-12-2002 21:01 Post subject:

You'll need a long arm to reach the button for the top floor.

Posted: 18-12-2002 23:11 Post subject: Re: Space Elevator??

Posted: 18-12-2002 23:38 Post subject:

The space elevator is the most sensible way to get into orbit -
no rockets, just an electromagnetic motor(possibly powered by photovoltaics) and Mr Otis's patent brake

trouble is it relies on materials that haven't been sucessfully produced yet-
even with carbon fibre bucky tube it is pushing at the limits of safety and carrying capacity- but according to Bradley C. Edwards these problems can be overcome.
Eventually every planet may have one, or several, or related devices
if we ever get round to it...

Posted: 19-12-2002 13:46 Post subject: Materials

Yeah, werent they supposed to be making the shaft out of a diamond based material??

Sounds pretty far fetched at first but when you think about it, the possibility isnt all that fantastical.