Space Elevator

[Remus]

I've heard in the last few weeks about LiftPort Groupe, multiple companies working togetter to build a so called mass transport system into orbit, the space elevator. They are so confident they are going to succeed that they even have a timer on the main page counting down to when the project will be completed.

The subject of research for more than a century, the space elevator is a unique way to ferry cargo and people into space. Recent advances in technology, most notably the development of carbon nanotube composites, now appear to make building it feasible. Initial research reports on building the space elevator that draw upon these discoveries have now been completed. As proposed in these preliminary reports, the space elevator will consist of a carbon nanotube composite ribbon stretching some 62,000 miles (100,000 km) from earth to space. The elevator will be anchored to a specially designed ocean going vessel named, "The LiftPort" near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, and to a small man-made counterweight in space. Lifters (robotic elevator cars) will move up and down the ribbon, carrying such items as satellites, solar power systems, exploration probes, factories, and eventually people into space. LiftPort's plan is to take the concept from the research stage to commercial development

For more info on the matter go to http://www.liftport.com/

So my quetion is: do you think this will work, or do you think it's only fantasy and it will never be built?

 

[kattmat]

Yes, in a century or two. Right now it's to difficult and expensive. You heard about the discovery that nanotubes are not strong enough to be used? It's going to be a long time before we can make a material strong enough, but that's just my opinion.

 

[Adabiviak]

Bottom line: I'm an optimist, and 11 years is a long time, given the recent rate of technology advances, so I voted yes.

Honestly, I don't think they'll have it done in 11 years. The foundation upon which rests the entire success of this is the strength of the 'rope'. Correct me if I'm wrong, but nobody's ever built something large enough to hold in your hands (much less something that'll cross the atmosphere) using nanotechnology. That's a big unknown. Nobody has also ever built a structure that big or for that purpose. Those are big unknowns also. I think they'll run into things they couldn't forsee with this big of a venture into the unknown that'll make this take longer than eleven years. I do think it's possible however.

 

[Que-Ever]

Ok. There's an elevator... that sends stuff into space.... Who's up there to recieve the stuff? :/

 

[Ikerous]

Who's up there to recieve the stuff? :/

God, duh.

 

[Que-Ever]

Oh :O Not the aliens? Naw, they don't want any of our shit.

 

[Ikerous]

Oh :O Not the aliens? Naw, they don't want any of our shit.

Not true. Humans invented the fleshlite.

 

[kirovman]

Yes it is possible.

No, not in 11 years.

 

[JNightshade]

I'd say it'll happen eventually. No idea when, though.

 

[Angry Lawyer]

I don't think it'll happen in our lifetimes.

-Angry Lawyer

 

[-Psy-]

Which is a shame really.

 

[pvtbones]

just imagine having to listen to the elevator music for 24+ hours :x

I voted yes, but not in 11 years. The optimist in me is saying 50 minimum.

 

[Ren.182]

Be cool if it happened. I think it will. Eventually. Maybe not in 11 years, but eventually.

 

[kirovman]

Incidentally, I was watching Back to the Future, and in 2015 they're supposed to have flying cars, hoverboards and really awful fashion sense

Oh, and Fusion reactors on cars.

 

[kupocake]

Sure it'll happen. They'll build three of them close enough to each other that you can jump between them in the low gravity. And future deep-space mining disputes will be settled upon them.

 

[Angry Lawyer]

It'll get swallowed by bureaocracy. Money that would be spent on the elevator would be spent on silly things, like paying for public servants.

-Angry Lawyer

 

[kirovman]

Or sandwiches for board meetings.

 

[Dalamari]

In space elevator, nobody can smell your fart

 

[Remus]

Incidentally, I was watching Back to the Future, and in 2015 they're supposed to have flying cars, hoverboards and really awful fashion sense

Oh, and Fusion reactors on cars.

Right... Well, flying cars maybe but with regular boring propellers not that antigravity bullshit. I've seen a flying car prototype and it looks way weird. As for the Fusion reactors on cars, we don't even have regular Fusion power plants yet so that's out of the question.

I personally remain an optimist. They probably whon't finish it in 11 years but maybe 20-25 years if they find a way to mass produce carbon nanotube materials. But if they do manage to pull this off it will be the greatast thing since sliced bread. Transport into Earth orbit will be much cheaper and shortly after that space tourism will pick up, space hotels perhaps .