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Originally Posted by Racoon
Not a bad idea, but it seems comletely unfeasible.
What about the Intense Heat of entering and exiting the Atmosphere?
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This wouldn't be a problem. The heat of reentry is caused by friction when a high-velocity object comes in contact with the atmosphere. A slow moving elevator wouldn't generate the same intense heat as a high-speed spacecraft.
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Originally Posted by Racoon
Plus what about all that space debris hitting it?
A paint chip in space impacts like a .44 caliber at close range. (or so I heard)
What happens if there is a break in the elevator somewhere?
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Space debris IS a potential problem. The solution would probably be an electromagnetic shield. Carbon nanotubes have been shown to be able to carry a current. (I believe they can also generate a current by moving through a magnetic field) This property could be used to generate a field that would repulse most small debris. Larger stuff would have to be removed by orbiting robots or clean-up crews.
The elevator would need to consist of several ribbons, so if one breaks we will be able to go up and repair it with relative ease. If they all break, the outer end flys off into space, and the lower end falls to the earth, causing much damage to the surrounding area. (Imagine several miles of cable and equipment falling from space...)
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Originally Posted by Racoon
PS. I see you're from Portland.
Seems we Got a good percentage of Hypo's from Portland Area!!
Including Myself, Turtle, and BioChemist!  |
Portland is a great place to live!
Glad there are so many of us on here.
