Space Elevator

[johndmuller]

I guess it's good that a broken cable won't make a huge trench wrapping around the planet several times, but OTOH, if it did, then we wouldn't have to explain to little kids anymore that the big stripe around the middle of the globe wasn't really there, because it really would be - talk about an easy way to cut through the political red tape to find a good straight route for a mag-lev line.

Anyway, even if the cable itself isn't a potential major hazard (and I still have my doubts about that), whatever is on it at that moment is bound to be. After all, the idea is to use this to raise heavy stuff to orbit, so there's going to be some heavy stuff up there, coming down pretty hard. I don't know how bad it could get - if it were a big load nearly at the geosynchronous equilibrium point - but if it were no worse than a bad plane crash, I suppose we could live with that kind of risk. Presumably the orbital station and the counterweight would be somehow prepared to deal with the situation out there. Perhaps it would even be possible to fit the cargo modules with some sort of emergency reentry system, at least something with enough control to avoid hitting population centers and nuclear reactors.

[binTravkin]

so there's going to be some heavy stuff up there, coming down pretty hard.

If you have something floating in the cosmos, which has it's counterweight to gravity (read the given link more closely) it basically runs away from Earth when the tape splits. If it's not so, at gravity-zero orbit it is not too hard to engage the thrusters and keep in orbit. And the thing travelling up and down would pretty easy disintegrate in atmosphere as Mir did.

[johndmuller]

From the point of view of the station (presumably located at the geosynchronous orbit) they would most likely want to jetison the counterweight (and the residual segment on the down-to-earth side) to stay in their orbit rather than go off at some tangential course or end up in an eccentric elliptical orbit.

From the point of view of a load abandoned part-way up (which was what I was referring to in my post, not the station itself), either because it was below the break or because the station disconnected, whether or not it disintegrated would depend on how high up it was, how aerodynamic it was and no doubt other stuff, like what the load was. Obviously, at lower heights, there would not be time to develop the kind of speed necessary to burn up.

If it were way beyond the atmosphere (but still below the station), it still might not be going that fast when it hit the atmosphere; remember, things like Mir or the Space Shuttle were going around the earth a lot faster than the initial velocity of the cargo pod (the pod would be by definition doing only one orbit per day, while low earth sats like Mir do multiple - say 5 or more - orbits per day). Of course, if it was a really long drop from way beyond the atmosphere. the vertical compontent could ratchet right up there making that distinction moot.

It is also possible that the break could be on the counterweight side of the station at the equilibrium point, in which case, they would also want to disconnect the earthbound side - this time to stay up there instead of starting the long descent.

Still, if the cable itself isn't a killer, the risk associated with the random stuff going up or down, whether in one or many pieces, should not be a show stopper.

[RedFred]

I still say that the real risk is several hours straight of Kenny G.

[binTravkin]

Still, if the cable itself isn't a killer, the risk associated with the random stuff going up or down, whether in one or many pieces, should not be a show stopper.

Well, I think noone is going to transport a hydrogen bomb with that thing. Apart from that, you can't expect any impact on us here. Imagine if a bunch of metal of size approx. same as B747 comes down. What big can happen? And I doubt those transporters will reach THAT size.

I still say that the real risk is several hours straight of Kenny G.

And in other words? (so a non-native english speaker can catch you).

[johndmuller]

Originally posted by binTravkin
Well, I think noone is going to transport a hydrogen bomb with that thing. . .

One can hope, anyway.

OTOH, it would be a way to get rid of nasty stuff that nobody wants buried in their back yards (like waste nuclear materials ) - i.e. launch them into the sun.

I'm not saying whether or not that would include Kenny G .

[GeoModder]

Damage inflicted upon impact at orbital speeds comes mostly from the kinetic impact, not the size of the object. So the size of those containers wouldn't matter that much compared to a jumbo. Certainly since the speed of such a container would be much greater then the average jumbo dropping down.

And let me remind you that if an object is sufficiently large, something is going to reach ground level. In case of Mir several objects had hit the earth (on or around Australia IIRC).

[binTravkin]

And let me remind you that if an object is sufficiently large, something is going to reach ground level. In case of Mir several objects had hit the earth (on or around Australia IIRC).

And still, what is the chance it will do anything bad apart from killing of some fish or migrating ducks?


Meanwhile I was approached by a very "intelligent" person who thinks my little writeup about nanotubes is extremely funny. I dunno him pretty well, but I suppose if it was so funny to him there might be more people who think it's just a piece of bull****.

Therefore I post some links on the nanotube matter for people who would like to know more (or at least something) about this discovery.

http://www.pa.msu.edu/cmp/csc/nanotube.html

http://www.personal.rdg.ac.uk/~scsharip/tubes.htm

http://www.nanotech-now.com/nanotube-buckyball-sites.htm

And wikipedia entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_nanotube

(contains more links)

BTW - a couple of guys who got Nobel Prize for their research on
fullerenes, which led to nanotubes.
-------------------
1996 Nobel Prize laureates Robert F. Curl, Harold W. Kroto, and
Richard E. Smalley
------------------

[Commy]

I think, for the most part, what is said here...is based on your honor that it is true and that you aren't making it up...

[WotanAnubis]

Originally posted by binTravkin
And in other words? (so a non-native english speaker can catch you).

Ever heard the term "elevator music"? Now think about space elevator music - if it doesn't improve dramatically, half the passengers will be insane once they've finally reached the top and the other half will have committed suicide.

[RedFred]

Nice try Wotan, but I am way ahead of you.

[Commy]

Don't forget refreshments, and of course, bathrooms...I wonder, will they need privacy windows in space?

[Flubber]

Originally posted by WotanAnubis

Ever heard the term "elevator music"? Now think about space elevator music - if it doesn't improve dramatically, half the passengers will be insane once they've finally reached the top and the other half will have committed suicide.

So true

[waab]

music in a elevator, damn I live in the wrong country. I have never had music om my elevator trips...

the question is shall I miss it?

[Flubber]

Originally posted by waab
music in a elevator, damn I live in the wrong country. I have never had music om my elevator trips...

the question is shall I miss it?

Actually most elevators here don't have music anymore-- they usually have computer screens ( with no sound at all) scrolling some news weather and sports.

I'm sure the Space elevator could show a movie