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Space Elevator May Become Reality

Posted by michael on from the skyhook dept.

mojotek writes: "The NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts has a study(15Mb pdf) about the feasibility of a "Space Elevator" comprised of a 22,000 mile long cable built out of carbon nanotubes. In theory, it would be able to carry loads of 20 tons to space without using a single rocket engine. Sounded way too sci-fi for my taste at first, but this article at TechTV actually helped fill in the holes."

1 of 430 comments (clear)

  1. Fire is DANGEROUS - STOP THE FIRE .... by GMac · · Score: 2, Troll

    Oh, please, go back to your caves and freeze to death why don't you!

    You do realize we HAVE to leave earth or we die here! What, you think the Sun is going to burn forever? Long before that, we will get hammered by some multi km asteroid that will barbecue most of life here anyhow! Wake up, get your act in gear, it's time to colonize space while we still can.

    The solution to this problem is also simple. Each piece needs to be aerodynamic anyhow, so add some flight control surfaces so it can "fly" apart under control...