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Domain: highliftsystems.com

Stories and comments across the archive that link to highliftsystems.com.

Comments · 56

  1. Wrong. by leonbrooks · · Score: 2, Informative · on Worldwide Focus On Going To The Moon
    The technology to actually build a space elevator does not exist at this time; and will not exist for hundreds of years.

    think again [warning: this link points to a huge PowerPoint file].

  2. Re:What happens when the cable breaks? by shrikel · · Score: 3, Informative · on More on Space Elevators

    Actually the cable is more like 60,000 miles long. The idea is to use a substance that will NOT break easily. And if it did break, it wouldn't crash down like steel, it would float down like paper. They're taking this into consideration. Look at their faq on their website.

  3. Elevator! by wackybrit · · Score: 1 · on Going Up?

    Their FAQ has some great questions.

    How easy would it be to break?
    What if it falls?
    How will the elevator be funded?
    What will the elevator be used for?
    When can I ride it?

    Which leads me to..

    Well, sir, there's nothing on Earth like a genuine, bonafide, electrified, six-car space elevator!

    Elevator! Elevator! What's it called? Elevator! Elevator!

    Miss Hoover: I hear those things are awfully loud.
    Lanley: It glides as softly as a cloud.
    Apu: is there a chance the track could bend?
    Lanley: Not on your life, my Hindu friend.
    Barney: What about us brain- dead slobs?
    Lanley: You'll all be given cushy jobs.
    Abe: Were you sent here by the devil?
    Lanley: No, good sir, I'm on the level.
    Chief Wiggum: The ring came off my pudding can.
    Lanley: Take my pen knife, my good man!
    I swear it's Springfield's only choice!
    Throw up your hands and raise your voice!
    Everyone: Monorail!
    Lanley: What's it called?
    Everyone: Monorail!
    Lanley: Once again!
    Everyone: Monorail!
    Marge: But Main Street's still all cracked and broken!
    Bart: Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken!
    Everyone: Monorail! Monorail! Monorail!
    Homer: Mono- DOH!!

  4. Re:Great news, but by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0 · on Going Up?
    There are no NEO objects strong enough to support hanging an elevator from.


    they dont propose hanging it from anything. Instead they will use the competing forces of gravity at the lower end and outward centripetal acceleration at the farther end keep the ribbon under tension and stationary over a single position on Earth.

    Not to mention the fact that the engine to lift the elevator car has to put out the same energy that a rocket engine does (conservation of energy, heard of it?).

    The amount of energy may be the same, but it will be expended in a much safer manner.

    Even assuming these issues could be magically fixed somehow, we have the socio-political issues. In order to be geosynchronous it has to be over the equator. Which is either in the ocean, in South Africa or in the middle of the Amazon.


    An ocean-going platform based on the current Sea Launch program would be used for the Earth anchor and located in the equatorial Pacific.

    All of this information is easily available at the High Lift Systems web site. You should check it out. It's a good read and it sounds like you're interested in the subject.
  5. Re:Environmental impact by headwick · · Score: 1 · on Going Up?

    Did you even read the website? This is a ribbon-like cable made of carbon nanotubes, not an enormous tower. The FAQ will answer your questions.

  6. People need to read the FAQ... by agilen · · Score: 5, Informative · on Going Up?

    http://www.highliftsystems.com/faq.html

    This talks about what will happen if it falls, what terrorists can do to it, etc. It actually seems fairly honestly done, not all marketing-speak.