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Thoughts on the Space Elevator

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the no-such-thing-as-an-inefficient-government dept.

Keith Curtis writes to tell us that Glenn Reynolds, of Instapundit fame, has posted his thoughts on why NASA should be building a space elevator instead or their current plans. Keith has also posted his throughts from an engineer's perspective (although admittadly still not a rocket scientist). "The challenges are many, but it has been a viable option since carbon nanotubes, structures so strong that one the width of a human hair could lift a car, were invented. A space elevator could be between 10 and 2000 times cheaper than conventional technology and will force NASA to change just about everything they do. Hopefully one day that bureaucracy will wake up and realize it."

5 of 622 comments (clear)

  1. Frist post! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    From Spanaiaiana!

  2. first post by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    GNAA BITCH

  3. MUSAK by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I said it, now don't mention it again. It is annoying and not funny.

  4. Yes but Glenn Reynolds is an idiot. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Couldnt find something from hindrocket or rush limbaugh?

  5. Re:Pixiedust by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    That desire to wait for 'better' was what killed off the Osborne Computer Corporation - they were selling all the CP/M machines they could make, and they announced an IBM PC compatible model. This being the early '80s, vaporware was common, and advancements were announced months before they hit the market.

    The CP/M market disappeared almost overnight. Everyone waited to buy the IBM compatible Osbornes.

    All of a sudden, the cash flow for OCC dropped to zero. The company had no funds to continue development - and folded.

    Sometimes when you play Chicken you win - but sometimes you get barbecued.