I wouldn't rush to conclude that the space elevator will never be realized. If it does take longer than initially anticipated, so be it. I would encourage LiftPort to continue its work; at the rate the space program moves (in fits and starts), perhaps a space elevator might eventually be a more economical way to lift material out of Earth's gravity well anyhow. I wouldn't want people fifty years in the future to look back and think, "Gee. The Shuttle has been scrapped. The CEV program didn't work out. IF only we had continued working on the Space Elevator, we would have an operating elevator at this time (rather than nothing at all)."
Fusion does not have the risk of a runaway reaction like fission does. If a crack were to develop in the fusion reaction, the impurities that would be introduced by, say, a single human breath would quench the reaction. Maintaining such a high level of purity within the reaction chamber is one reason it has been so difficult to realize fusion power (unlike fission, which went from theory to reality in a matter of months!)
I'm all for space exploration, but I will believe it when it actually happens. Talk, plan, discuss, blah-blah-blah . . . Enought talk already. Just do it.
Fascinating!
I am always glad to see powerful tools become more readily available.
I know the Satellite Tool Kit by ASI provides many powerful orbit analysis tools, but it's not open source (although they do give out free CDs of the basic software, and charge customers for additional features and higher precision functions). Otherwise, a person is often left with trying to translate a LAPACK routine from FORTRAN into something more C-like.
Impressive!! Did you also post your request through Google Groups and perhaps some Yahoo! groups? I have found these groups to be excellent sources of advice and resources. For example, one reference was to http://www.rocketscientists.ca, which just happens to keep me within one click of most of the links I happen to like (including links to stories also posted here).
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I wouldn't rush to conclude that the space elevator will never be realized. If it does take longer than initially anticipated, so be it. I would encourage LiftPort to continue its work; at the rate the space program moves (in fits and starts), perhaps a space elevator might eventually be a more economical way to lift material out of Earth's gravity well anyhow. I wouldn't want people fifty years in the future to look back and think, "Gee. The Shuttle has been scrapped. The CEV program didn't work out. IF only we had continued working on the Space Elevator, we would have an operating elevator at this time (rather than nothing at all)."
Fusion does not have the risk of a runaway reaction like fission does. If a crack were to develop in the fusion reaction, the impurities that would be introduced by, say, a single human breath would quench the reaction. Maintaining such a high level of purity within the reaction chamber is one reason it has been so difficult to realize fusion power (unlike fission, which went from theory to reality in a matter of months!)
I'm all for space exploration, but I will believe it when it actually happens. Talk, plan, discuss, blah-blah-blah . . . Enought talk already. Just do it.
Fascinating! I am always glad to see powerful tools become more readily available. I know the Satellite Tool Kit by ASI provides many powerful orbit analysis tools, but it's not open source (although they do give out free CDs of the basic software, and charge customers for additional features and higher precision functions). Otherwise, a person is often left with trying to translate a LAPACK routine from FORTRAN into something more C-like.
Just wait until those webs are made out of carbon nanotubes. Then we'll REALLY be in trouble!
If it actually happens--great! I am all for advancing science. The money is better spent there than on hand-outs for welfare bums and dope addicts.
Impressive!! Did you also post your request through Google Groups and perhaps some Yahoo! groups? I have found these groups to be excellent sources of advice and resources. For example, one reference was to http://www.rocketscientists.ca, which just happens to keep me within one click of most of the links I happen to like (including links to stories also posted here).