Post#43 Feb 23, 2020 Sun 22:58 PM
The problem with rockets is that they are expensive, mostly single use and occasionally have been known to explode. That’s why for over a century scientists and sci-fi writers alike have dreamed of creating a space elevator to ferry astronauts and payloads between the Earth and low orbit. But is this even possible? Can a building be so high that it can take people to space?
So yes, it is. Astrophysicists says it can be true. But what material can be so strong to handle so much of weight and pressure? Answer is: Carbon NanoTubes. Carbon NanoTube is 100 times stronger than Steel, and as flexible as Plastic. The steel tether is too heavy to be used as a full-sized space elevator, which must, of course, extend for tens of thousands of miles
Just like a ball tied to a pole using a rope is kept by giving the ball a perpetual motion around the pole, the same way a counter-weight attached to carbon-nanotube ribbon on Earth, will be kept straight. The centrifugal force at the space end of the ribbon will help in balancing the gravitational force applied on the earth side.
The ribbon will be thin like a paper, and just few centi-meters wide.
The space elevators are planned to be built around equators, where hurricanes and tornadoes are scarce. Also, it needs to be planned to keep it safe from terrorist attack as well.
The elevator would go as high as lower earth orbit, or geo-stationary orbit, where satellites can sync the position for transportation for cargo or men.
A space elevator would create a permanent Earth-to-space connection that would never close. While it wouldn't make the trip to space faster, it would make trips to space more frequent and would open up space to a new era of development. It would significantly lower the cost of putting cargo into space. Although slower than the chemically propelled space shuttle, the lifters reduce launch costs from $10,000 to $20,000 per pound, to approximately $400 per pound.
Japan’s Obayashi Corporation, is already doing lots of research in this, and have designed a prototype for this.
It is assumed, whichever country finishes this first, will rule space.
