Author Topic: Space Elevator in 2050 ? (Read 18198 times)

APODman · « **on:** February 22, 2012, 07:42:04 AM »

"It may be possible to travel to space in an elevator as early as 2050, a major construction company has announced.

Obayashi Corp., headquartered in Tokyo, on Monday unveiled a project to build a gigantic elevator that would transport passengers to a station 36,000 kilometers above the Earth.

For the envisaged project, the company would utilize carbon nanotubes, which are 20 times stronger than steel, to produce cables for the space elevator.

The idea of space elevators has been described in several science-fiction novels. Obayashi, however, believes it is possible to construct one in the real world thanks to carbon nanotubes, which were invented in the 1990s, the company said.

Some other organizations have also been studying the development of space elevators, such as the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

In Obayashi's project, a cable would be stretched up to 96,000 kilometers, or about one-fourth of the distance between the Earth and the moon. One end of the cable would be anchored at a spaceport on the ground, while the other would be fitted with a counterweight.

The terminal station would house laboratories and living space. The car could carry up to 30 people to the station at 200 kilometers per hour, which would mean a 7-1/2 day trip to reach the station. Magnetic linear motors are one possible means of propulsion for the car, according to Obayashi.

Solar power generation facilities would also be set up around the terminal station to transmit power to the ground, the company added.

Whether carbon nanotubes can be mass-produced economically enough and whether various organizations from around the world can work together are two key issues facing the development of the space elevator, according to the company.

"At this moment, we cannot estimate the cost for the project," an Obayashi official said. "However, we'll try to make steady progress so that it won't end just up as simply a dream."

Space Elevator concept:

source: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120221004421.htm

More in: http://gizmodo.com/5887210/japan-will-have-a-space-elevator-by-2050

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vh · « **Reply #1 on:** February 22, 2012, 12:58:32 PM »

hehehe what happens when someone brings pruning shears

smjjames · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2012, 02:00:16 PM »

They'll have to take all kinds of security issues into consideration obviously.

deoxy99 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2012, 02:41:39 PM »

Why can't they just use solid material? Why do you have to use cables?

FiahOwl · « **Reply #4 on:** February 22, 2012, 03:15:16 PM »

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vh · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2012, 03:38:43 PM »

Quote from: deoxy99 on February 22, 2012, 02:41:39 PM

Why can't they just use solid material? Why do you have to use cables?

what, cables are solids? i doubt liquid or gas material would hold it together with gravity or cohesion

APODman · « **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2012, 09:26:43 AM »

Only for viewing the distance that the counterweight will be of Earth I have created a simulation in the US.

Building this lift will be a huge engineering challenge.

( the "counterweight" are caled "contrapeso" ( portuguese) in the simulation)

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smjjames · « **Reply #7 on:** February 23, 2012, 09:35:30 AM »

Is it going to be in Japan itself? I don't have an issue with that, but wouldn't it be better to put the cable as close to the equator as possible?

I don't know what the consequences of building a cable and counterweight so far from the equator would be.

FiahOwl · « **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2012, 10:06:51 AM »

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atomic7732 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 23, 2012, 03:27:18 PM »

I'd like to see that thing during day time...

Quote from: FiahOwl on February 23, 2012, 10:06:51 AM

So unless Japan owns or buys a pacific island...

Who mentioned buying pacific islands? They could just ask Kiribati to be able to build a space elevator there.

(And probably pay Kiribati or something, but not buying an island)

clockworks · « **Reply #10 on:** February 23, 2012, 03:56:33 PM »

Quote from: deoxy99 on February 22, 2012, 02:41:39 PM

Why can't they just use solid material? Why do you have to use cables?

Because solid materials have breaking points at certain lengths

vh · « **Reply #11 on:** February 23, 2012, 03:57:11 PM »

wait what

...cables are made of solid!!!

deoxy99 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 23, 2012, 07:16:36 PM »

Mudkipz, I don't mean that kind of solid. I mean stiff materials, like iron and stone.

vh · « **Reply #13 on:** February 23, 2012, 07:18:42 PM »

cable or whatever holds space elevator up won't have to bend much/at all

deoxy99 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 23, 2012, 07:48:54 PM »

I think they will eventually.

vh · « **Reply #15 on:** February 23, 2012, 07:51:50 PM »

when would that happen? The millions of tons of centripetal force should keep the cable very straight and rigid.

deoxy99 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 23, 2012, 07:53:04 PM »

Should! They may not!

vh · « **Reply #17 on:** February 23, 2012, 07:55:57 PM »

well if they don't, then there's going to be a very big problem, solid cable or not

deoxy99 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 23, 2012, 07:57:04 PM »

Well, we won't know until they build it.

vh · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2012, 08:13:45 PM »

What do you mean? It has to be straight! If it isn't, either someone's broken or gravity isn't turned on.

You'll know an apple will hit the ground when it falls before it leaves the tree, just like you'll know a skyscraper won't fall before you build it

deoxy99 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 23, 2012, 09:55:23 PM »

Quote from: mudkipz on February 23, 2012, 08:13:45 PM

just like you'll know a skyscraper won't fall before you build it

Impossible, someone could blow it up, earthquakes could shake it down, a tsunami could take it down... It'll definitely fall somehow.

smjjames · « **Reply #21 on:** February 23, 2012, 10:08:49 PM »

Quote from: deoxy99 on February 23, 2012, 09:55:23 PM

Quote from: mudkipz on February 23, 2012, 08:13:45 PM
just like you'll know a skyscraper won't fall before you build it
Impossible, someone could blow it up, earthquakes could shake it down, a tsunami could take it down... It'll definitely fall somehow.

I call bad analogy on mudkipz's part.

For material, carbon nanotubes are the strongest material yet, we just need a way to mass produce them on a macro scale.

vh · « **Reply #22 on:** February 24, 2012, 12:52:16 PM »

Quote from: deoxy99 on February 23, 2012, 09:55:23 PM

Quote from: mudkipz on February 23, 2012, 08:13:45 PM
just like you'll know a skyscraper won't fall before you build it
Impossible, someone could blow it up, earthquakes could shake it down, a tsunami could take it down... It'll definitely fall somehow.

someone could blow up the space elevator then. The cable wouldn't be straight then

carbon nanotubes or not

deoxy99 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 24, 2012, 12:55:09 PM »

... Wind will affect it is what I am saying.

FiahOwl · « **Reply #24 on:** February 24, 2012, 07:12:53 PM »

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vh · « **Reply #25 on:** February 24, 2012, 07:37:39 PM »

who said it would be in the south pacific......
and......sooner or later someone's going to succeed if they wanted to

FiahOwl · « **Reply #26 on:** February 27, 2012, 05:42:07 AM »

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Darvince · « **Reply #27 on:** February 27, 2012, 05:44:40 AM »

Inb4 you are the terrorist that tries to do that.

FiahOwl · « **Reply #28 on:** February 27, 2012, 05:45:26 AM »

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Darvince · « **Reply #29 on:** February 27, 2012, 05:46:49 AM »

Because you are prone to accidents, and because you could change in some years.