![]() ![]() One shows up in the prologue to Project EDEN it doesn't last long.These are sometimes known as "beanstalks", after Jack and the Beanstalk. A lunar space elevator would need to connect to either the L1 or L2 Lagrange points of the Earth-Moon system, requiring it to be several times longer than its terrestrial counterpart, but the Moon's low gravity means it's still possible with current materials. On the plus side, there is a second moon just outside synchronous orbit, which would be handy to use as material to make the elevator. Those suggesting Mars are reasonable, although there is a moon between the Martian surface and synchronous orbit. Many works of fiction suggest building a prototype on the Moon or Mars (before tackling Earth), as the lower gravity makes it easier (and safer in case something goes wrong). It's been said that we could have a working space elevator about 50 years after everyone stops laughing. The idea is surprisingly plausible from a physics standpoint, is evident in medium-hard sci-fi, and would, once the construction cost was paid off, reduce the cost of putting payloads into orbit. Other theoretical methods include dynamic-support, essentially a stream of magnetized bullets whose momentum pushes up the cable. We so far don't have the ability to manufacture it in the lengths needed. The best materials science we have today tells us that the only known material with a high enough strength-to-weight ratio would be carbon nanotube cable. ![]() ![]() To be honest, you could do worse than one of the great classics of bossa nova, but some variety would be nice. It would need to be placed on the equator, and stretch up in such a way that the center of mass for the system was beyond the geosynchronous orbit level. Exactly What It Says on the Tin: an elevator riding up into space on a cable stretched from Earth into orbit. Academician Prokhor Zakharov, Sid Meier's Alpha CentauriĪ concept that gets kicked around a lot in Speculative Fiction as well as among real-life futurists. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |