If you want to put a large communications satellite in orbit, it will cost >100 million dollars to do it. Then, you have to build a machine that can withstand being launched by rocket, survive 20 years in orbit without repair or refueling, and still be useful as a communications satellite.
With a Space Elevator, launching will cost 1/10th or so what a rocket would. It also saves you the 3-7% chance of exploding or otherwise failing, while allowing relatively easier replacement of defective equipment (compared to a new rocket launch). Universities and small countries will be able to afford to launch satellites and experiments of their own. Today, you aren't a business if you don't have a website. In 20 years, you won't be a business if you don't have a satellite (marketing!).
You're right. The material we need has not been made yet. This is a barrier that can be broken. 105 years ago, heavier than air flight was impossible. Today, space flight is possible. 50 years ago, 1 kilobyte was huge (and on punch cards. Today 1 gigabyte is small.
We sometimes sound over zealous (I'll be the second to admit), but this is just a technical problem to solve. Better minds than mine are working on it right now.
300 Gpa is the upper end of the theoretical spectrum. The best steels (and I mean ~the best~) are as much as 85+% of the max theoretical strength of steel. When carbon nanotubes reach 33% of their theoretical strength, we WILL build a Space Elevator. Let's collectively cheer on the researchers. If even 1/50th of the max strength is achieved, the world will change. Why aim to make bridges and elevators a little longer, or your tennis racket a little lighter? Let's aim for the big prize, the breakthrough, and grab the enhancements and improvements along the way.
Power will be beamed to the lifters by a medium intensity near-infrared laser. It would not be a good idea to stand infront of such a laser, but it won't hurt you to run your hand through it or even to walk (or fly) quickly through it. The lifters will carry an array of photovoltaic cells keyed to the wavelength of the laser, making a surprisingly efficient power transfer.
The adaptive optics (for aiming and mitigating atmospheric distortion) and lasers themselves are in the demonstration stages (for other projects).
Windshear is certainly an issue, but it can be dealt with. Winds at the equator are also unusually calm compared to everywhere else on the planet. The ribbon is planned to be very narrow (but thicker) at atmospheric altitudes - this will reduce drag without sacrificing strength.
Resonance will be actively dampened at the top and the bottom for sure. The lifters themselves may also have some mechanism to dampen vibrations.
Ads? Where we're going we won't need ads.
The Space Elevator ribbon will be similar in width to a tree - birds seem to navigate around those. It's also not moving like a windmill's turbine, so it won't kill them. Worst thing about the birds will be getting droppings on our lifters.
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With a Space Elevator, launching will cost 1/10th or so what a rocket would. It also saves you the 3-7% chance of exploding or otherwise failing, while allowing relatively easier replacement of defective equipment (compared to a new rocket launch). Universities and small countries will be able to afford to launch satellites and experiments of their own. Today, you aren't a business if you don't have a website. In 20 years, you won't be a business if you don't have a satellite (marketing!).
You're right. The material we need has not been made yet. This is a barrier that can be broken. 105 years ago, heavier than air flight was impossible. Today, space flight is possible. 50 years ago, 1 kilobyte was huge (and on punch cards. Today 1 gigabyte is small. We sometimes sound over zealous (I'll be the second to admit), but this is just a technical problem to solve. Better minds than mine are working on it right now.
300 Gpa is the upper end of the theoretical spectrum. The best steels (and I mean ~the best~) are as much as 85+% of the max theoretical strength of steel. When carbon nanotubes reach 33% of their theoretical strength, we WILL build a Space Elevator. Let's collectively cheer on the researchers. If even 1/50th of the max strength is achieved, the world will change. Why aim to make bridges and elevators a little longer, or your tennis racket a little lighter? Let's aim for the big prize, the breakthrough, and grab the enhancements and improvements along the way.
Power will be beamed to the lifters by a medium intensity near-infrared laser. It would not be a good idea to stand infront of such a laser, but it won't hurt you to run your hand through it or even to walk (or fly) quickly through it. The lifters will carry an array of photovoltaic cells keyed to the wavelength of the laser, making a surprisingly efficient power transfer. The adaptive optics (for aiming and mitigating atmospheric distortion) and lasers themselves are in the demonstration stages (for other projects).
Windshear is certainly an issue, but it can be dealt with. Winds at the equator are also unusually calm compared to everywhere else on the planet. The ribbon is planned to be very narrow (but thicker) at atmospheric altitudes - this will reduce drag without sacrificing strength.
Resonance will be actively dampened at the top and the bottom for sure. The lifters themselves may also have some mechanism to dampen vibrations.
Ads? Where we're going we won't need ads.
The Space Elevator ribbon will be similar in width to a tree - birds seem to navigate around those. It's also not moving like a windmill's turbine, so it won't kill them. Worst thing about the birds will be getting droppings on our lifters.