Notes From 3rd Annual Space Elevator Conference

colonist writes "The Space Elevator: 3rd Annual International Conference was held recently. Blaise Gassend, a PhD student at MIT, took notes. The main obstacle is still the material: transferring the strength of the nanotube to the ribbon. Other topics include: the nanotube tether Centennial Challenge; Elevator 2010, a challenge for a 250 kg climber to climb a 16 km tether; objections and refinements to Bradley Edwards' design; non-equatorial space elevators; replacing the term 'space elevator' with 'space bridge'; testing the space elevator material on cable cars; science; defense and economics."

Comments

Unfortunately

[Timesprout]

The space elevator is a great idea but no human has the mental strength to listen to elevator musak for the length of time the trip will require and still retain their sanity.

Re:Sadly, Too big a Terrorist Target.

[mwood]

Don't forget the really big rocket you need to attach to the kitchen sink in order to kill nearly all of its momentum so it doesn't just sit there in orbit with you making you look really foolish.