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NPR Talks Skyhooks

Posted by Zonk on from the beyond-the-clouds dept.

David writes "NPR's Talk of the Nation this past week featured Brad Edwards, President of Carbon Designs Inc., to talk about their plans to develop an elevator that would lift people to an object orbiting in outer space. The project's homepage details their plans and ambitions. The discussion expands on callers' concerns about such problems as commercial airliners running into the super long cable or if it would act as a conduit for lightning."

13 of 328 comments (clear)

  1. Skyhooks? by imroy · · Score: 3, Funny

    Does the audio program mention the word "skyhook"?
    Why bring up the Aussie 70's supergroup?

    1. Re:Skyhooks? by pintomp3 · · Score: 2, Funny

      what does space have to do with kareem abdul jabbar?

      *reference may be lost on /.*

  2. Obligatory Simpsons comment by Exluddite · · Score: 1, Funny

    I hope this isn't going to be anything like the escalator to nowhere...

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    What does this button do...
  3. Stuck... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Would Not Like to be stuck if that elevator breaks down :|

  4. Answer by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 4, Funny

    From TFA:

    We firmly believe that the set of technologies that underlie the infinite promise of the Space Elevator can be demonstrated, or proven infeasible, within a 5 year time-frame. And hence our name. Elevator:2010. we promise to get an answer for you by then.

    Message 5 years from now:

    42

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  5. I just have to ask... by NotQuiteReal · · Score: 3, Funny
    When the space elevator is built, just what kind of elevator music will it have?

    The longest song in my MP3 collection is 22:43 (Autobahn by Kraftwerk - even on topic, sort of...) Is that long enough for the ride up? How many quarters do I need to put in the slot?

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    This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
  6. Muzak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    According to the website, the elevator will move at 200 mph. Considering that our atmosphere is roughly 380 miles, I'm going to have to listen to Kenny G for almost 2 hours!

  7. Re:The next x-prize by drwho · · Score: 4, Funny

    Any such competition would likely come with "strings attached". ;)

  8. kiddies beware... by moviepig.com · · Score: 4, Funny

    I guess the old prank of jumping onto a crowded car and pushing all the buttons would be a no-no...

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    Seeing bad movies only encourages them. Watch responsibly
  9. What NPR talks about after the skyhook... by flag+burning · · Score: 2, Funny

    I could probably use that to find myself a life...

  10. Re:Nothing new under the sun by pentalive · · Score: 2, Funny

    I don't think the space elevator is quite as ambitious as the tower of Babble, After all the space elevator only goes to orbit, not to Heaven.

  11. Shadows of America by The_Minkis · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why build a skyhook? You know Dash Rendar's just going to fly by and blow it up...

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    #define QUESTION ((bb) || !(bb))
  12. Re:Nothing new under the sun by Timberwolf0122 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Like building a tower of babel is hard! I've built serveral, the secret is realising that
    "ooo heavean is a place on earth"

    I thankyou.

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    In the not too distant future, next Sunday A.D.