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Space Elevators Could Be Lethal

Posted by kdawson on from the fried-by-van-allen dept.

Maggie McKee writes, "A new study reports that passengers on space elevators of current design could be killed by radiation. Even traveling at 200 kilometers per hour, passengers would spend several days in the Van Allen radiation belts, long enough to kill them." Looks like the elevator scientists will get this one solved before liftoff.

2 of 428 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Yeah... by COMON$ · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Never underestimate the arrogance of man. Even if we didn't need the tether, we would still create it because we could. So your statement will join a long line of comments through history.

    "Yeah - Like China will build a 4000 mile long wall."

    "Yeah - We are going to build a tunnel under the English Channel."

    "Yeah - We are going to dig a ditch to let boats cross America."

    "Yeah - The Egyptians are going to build a gigantic pyramid that will still be standing in 4500 years."

    "Yeah - We will propel a highly explosive cargo ship to the moon carrying people."

    --
    CS: It is all sink or swim...oh and did I mention there are sharks in that water?
  2. Re:Aqua viva by Moofie · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Do you seriously think this would be a major design impediment? Look, you figure out how to make a structure 36,000+ miles long, I'll take care of the glorified container truck.

    --
    Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!