NPR Talks Skyhooks

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."

Comments

Answer

[Rosco P. Coltrane]

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

Re:The next x-prize

[drwho]

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

kiddies beware...

[moviepig.com]

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