>-----Original Message----- >From: Erik Reuter [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2003 10:04 AM >To: Killer Bs Discussion >Subject: Re: US-based missiles to have global reach > > >On Wed, Jul 02, 2003 at 09:29:03AM -0700, Chad Cooper wrote: > >> We may very well have a Space Elevator by then. Then it >would be cheap > >If by "then" you mean we are likely to have a space elevator by 2023, >then you are mistaken. I will bet you any amount of money you care to >name that we won't. The more money, the better. > >I'd even be willing to bet that no serious agency in the world has even >STARTED actual construction of a space elevator by 2023.
Perhaps.... if you have in mind Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Space Elevator I would agree with you. It is unrealistic, and unnecessary. Who needs a big fat cable, when you can build a nanotube ribbon a few feet wide and only microns thick. Perhaps I am a nutty idealist. I sometimes believe what I read. http://www.liftport.com/ and the FAQ that has answers to many commons misconceptions. http://www.liftport.com/pages/index.php?fuseAction=page&pageID=1234 http://www.isr.us/Downloads/niac_pdf/contents.html http://www.highliftsystems.com/ http://www.niac.usra.edu/studies/ >From highlift Systems Web site "The ribbon, the only component of the space elevator not commercially available, is the major hurdle in the construction of the space elevator. The sheer length, 100,000 km, is considerable, but is comparable to what has already been constructed such as trans-oceanic ribbons and simple thread in textile mills. The design of the ribbon is very specific and requires high-performance materials. The ribbon of our proposed 20,000 kg capacity elevator will have a 2 square millimeter cross-sectional area, be 1 meter wide and microns thick, on average. It will be composed of individual fibers 10 microns in diameter lying side-by-side. The fibers will be interconnected by tape sandwiches spaced every 10 cm along the length of the ribbon. This design will allow the ribbon to survive small meteor impacts and be easily used with a roller traction drive climbers. The material required for construction of the ribbon is a carbon nanotube composite. Carbon nanotubes will be under commercial production in the near future. Composites utilizing carbon nanotubes are also under development and may be ready in the next 1 to 5 years." So my question is... are the obstacles preventing the start of a space elevator by 2023 technical, financial or organizational in nature? Any comments? Nerd From Hell > >-- >"Erik Reuter" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.erikreuter.net/ >_______________________________________________ >http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l > _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
