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Going Up?

Posted by michael on from the keep-arms-inside-the-car dept.

jmiyaku writes "The National Post is reporting that NASA has given a Seattle company a $570,000 grant to continue its investigation into constructing a space elevator. Coupled with some production-grade technology from a Japanese car company (carbon nanotube composites), this elevator could be a reality within 15 years..." The Highlift website has some more information.

6 of 515 comments (clear)

  1. Guess who can't wait for this!!! by toupsie · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you build it, they will come...

    --
    Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.
  2. Going up? by bokketies · · Score: 3, Funny

    I sure hope it can get you down as well.

  3. Re:Good idea for nuclear waste? by aengblom · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's not feasible to send waste into the sun - take a look through a few astronomy texts and you'll see why...You'd require massive amounts of fuel to get it there.

    Oh, no. There are some waste products that should only be desposed of in this way--whatever the cost. For example: Richard Simmons

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    So close and yet so far from the world's perfect ID number
  4. Just asking for trouble... by Tickenest · · Score: 3, Funny

    Man, can you imagine how much time and money would be wasted the first time you get a jackass who pushes all the floor buttons on this puppy right as he's getting off?

    --
    This is the NFL, which stands for "Not For Long" if you keep making those bulls*** calls.
  5. Re:Good idea for nuclear waste? by cybercuzco · · Score: 4, Funny
    Were you aware that the sun is a Giant ball of radiation? Were you further aware that that electromagnetic RADAITON is bathing the earth every single day? Dangerous solar RADIATION is known to cause CANCER in human beings. Why would we want to add to that radiation by slinging nuclear waste into the sun? The sun is also an unstable environment, if that nuclear waste went critical it could explode with the force of thousands of hiroshimas, possible damaging the sun and causing more harmful RADIATION to be spread to earth.

    In case you couldnt tell, i was being sarcastic ;-)

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  6. Re:Impact on the environment (and the ground) by Tablizer · · Score: 3, Funny
    The biggest problem is figuring out how to move cargo fast enough. I'd be leery of having induction motors mess with the cable itself, and if its a nanotube bundle they won't conduct in the right direction anyways. Winches are much too slow. Sheathing the cable with metal would only be practical for a very thin layer, which ends up being too thin to support the required currents without boiling off (I think). It's an interesting design problem.

    I got a solution: Use rocket engines. In fact, skip the cable and just use the rocket engines alone! I am sure scientists can find a way to keep them pointed stable enough for flight.

    Wait a minute......
    --
    Table-ized A.I.