Comments on: Space Elevator Crawls Forward http://deanesmay.com/2009/11/07/space-elevator-crawls-forward/ Defending the liberal tradition in history, science, and philosophy. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:34:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Keith S. http://deanesmay.com/2009/11/07/space-elevator-crawls-forward/#comment-179531 Keith S. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:24:50 +0000 http://deanesmay.com/?p=17805#comment-179531 Another step on the way can be found <a href="http://www.media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=13294&SnID=45585023" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Another step on the way can be found here.

]]> By: ArnoldHarris http://deanesmay.com/2009/11/07/space-elevator-crawls-forward/#comment-179524 ArnoldHarris Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:10:28 +0000 http://deanesmay.com/?p=17805#comment-179524 I note that in the cited fine print, Thomas Nugent, a principal of the organization that won the award for their device, clearly said he does not think the idea of a nanotube space elevator will work on Earth, but might well do so on Luna or Mars. Irrespective of that, I hope mankink soldiers on in space exploration, and especially so in regard to setting up permanent habitation on Mars and beginning the long work of terraforming that planet. -------------- Dean, it is good to see you are alive and around. I tried telephoning you, but your phone either was always busy or you were not at home. Arnold Harris Mount Horeb WI I note that in the cited fine print, Thomas Nugent, a principal of the organization that won the award for their device, clearly said he does not think the idea of a nanotube space elevator will work on Earth, but might well do so on Luna or Mars.

Irrespective of that, I hope mankink soldiers on in space exploration, and especially so in regard to setting up permanent habitation on Mars and beginning the long work of terraforming that planet.
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Dean, it is good to see you are alive and around. I tried telephoning you, but your phone either was always busy or you were not at home.

Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI

]]> By: Dishman http://deanesmay.com/2009/11/07/space-elevator-crawls-forward/#comment-179514 Dishman Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:23:10 +0000 http://deanesmay.com/?p=17805#comment-179514 The article suggested a beanstalk for the Moon. I initially rejected that idea, but it might work. L1 (between the Earth and Moon) probably wouldn't work because of orbital eccentricity, but L2 seems viable (beyond the Moon). It would be 60,000 km to L2 (and counterbalance stretching well beyond that), but most of that is at negligible g. There are two main numbers to consider in beanstalks: 1) Weight-length to synchronous orbit,. "g-km" is a handy measure of this. 2) Material strength, which can also be expressed in "g-km". For steel cable, it's about 25 g-km, giving a doubling distance of 20 km. That is, every 20 km of steel cable, you need to double its cross-section to support the weight of cable below. The article suggested a beanstalk for the Moon. I initially rejected that idea, but it might work. L1 (between the Earth and Moon) probably wouldn’t work because of orbital eccentricity, but L2 seems viable (beyond the Moon). It would be 60,000 km to L2 (and counterbalance stretching well beyond that), but most of that is at negligible g.

There are two main numbers to consider in beanstalks:
1) Weight-length to synchronous orbit,. “g-km” is a handy measure of this.
2) Material strength, which can also be expressed in “g-km”. For steel cable, it’s about 25 g-km, giving a doubling distance of 20 km. That is, every 20 km of steel cable, you need to double its cross-section to support the weight of cable below.

]]> By: MikeLyons http://deanesmay.com/2009/11/07/space-elevator-crawls-forward/#comment-179508 MikeLyons Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:18:12 +0000 http://deanesmay.com/?p=17805#comment-179508 Shouldn't this article be more accurately titled as "lifts slowly upward" Yes, I get it, there is no "up" in space but still. Shouldn’t this article be more accurately titled as “lifts slowly upward” Yes, I get it, there is no “up” in space but still.

]]> By: Dean Esmay http://deanesmay.com/2009/11/07/space-elevator-crawls-forward/#comment-179504 Dean Esmay Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:18:19 +0000 http://deanesmay.com/?p=17805#comment-179504 The most wildly improbable-seeming way to space might just be what makes it practical and affordable. I love this, I hope I live to see it happen. The most wildly improbable-seeming way to space might just be what makes it practical and affordable. I love this, I hope I live to see it happen.

]]> By: John Eddy http://deanesmay.com/2009/11/07/space-elevator-crawls-forward/#comment-179502 John Eddy Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:30:29 +0000 http://deanesmay.com/?p=17805#comment-179502 It will need to built on the equator, meaning Africa has a number of very attractive locations. That means making Africa a gateway to the stars. Even the kleptocracies endemic over there would have a hard time screwing that up. And yes, I know you were being sarcastic, but I just felt it ought to be said. It will need to built on the equator, meaning Africa has a number of very attractive locations. That means making Africa a gateway to the stars. Even the kleptocracies endemic over there would have a hard time screwing that up.

And yes, I know you were being sarcastic, but I just felt it ought to be said.

]]> By: agmartin http://deanesmay.com/2009/11/07/space-elevator-crawls-forward/#comment-179500 agmartin Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:56:46 +0000 http://deanesmay.com/?p=17805#comment-179500 But what about all the poor, how can we spend money on space when there are still people starving in Africa? /lib But what about all the poor, how can we spend money on space when there are still people starving in Africa?
/lib

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