Anyone here remember the Space Elavator or Skylift?

[Diceroller]

Where exactly are we with this and is this really feasable? I have a few questions on this so here goes. As I was doing a little reading and read that they're considering using Carbon Nanotubes how thin and strong are we talking to be able to support it's own weight as well as the weight of the load? Wouldn't leaving the earths Atmosphere and reentry generate heat/friction or would the Space Elevator be traveling slow enough to keep this to a minimum and what would would the outside temperatures be at these points? Also what is the likelyhood of a small meteorite hitting it at some point thus destroying it?

[R1Geezer]

well one end will be 36k from Earth over the equator and weightless in free fall, the length of the line would have to free fall at different rates throughout it's length, getting closer to earth would mean the line is no longer in freefall orbit but being tigged by gravity no known material could support even it's own wieght, though the micro fibres of C60 you sescribe look like good candidate when perfected. Lot's of serious problems to overcome first! Fascinating subject though and a sci fi dream for a century!

[Diceroller]

I agree, And the thought that this could be also used for live cargo/humans but only in a protective environment due to radiation and apparently this method could be used on other planets too. The only downer is this won't happen in my lifetime.

[venator]

How does it work, then?

Surely if you hang a load on the bottom of the cable, it would pull the top end down, and would require some sort of thrust to keep it in place?

sounds like a perpetual motion machine sort of idea.

[jomifl]

For the upper terminal of the lift to stay over the same spot on the earth it would have to be at a least distance of geosynchronicity. That is 42,000 kilometers. It would have to be further than that to support the weight of the cable going down to the earth by the centripetal force acting on it. The cable has got to be strong enough to support it's own weight as well as the elevator capsule. The capsule has to be able to grip the cable and / or travel along it at quite a high speed to be of any use so there would be friction problems to overcome. Maglev bearings would make it impactical because of their weight and air bearings wouldn't be any use where there is no air available ie. most of the trip. I can't see it ever being practicable with any conceivable technology.

[Dagman]

It is a good concept but cost will be the downfall surely. the amount of energy and materials would be phenomenal and I don't think you'd find a sponsor. I think there was one in a Startrek Voyager episode. Another thing would be weather, winds high in the sky are hundreds of miles an hour in all directions and at different levels so there'd be a shearing effect to contend with too.