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[KaiseR]

Oh, what a great idea - a giant structure visible for everyone on the northern hemisphere! (or southern, depending on where they build it) Yeah that won't piss everyone off.

You know, such a structure would have to be built on the Equator (or near it anyway). And the curve of Earth and the sky would probably make it invisible if you're further than, say 200-500 kms. So, I gues the Atlantic or the Pacific would be nice places.

[DavoX]

I don't think people will want to wait a few hours traveling on earth, air, or whatever just to reach that thing.

[Sang]

The wikipedia page made me believe the elevator would be used for the transportation of goods, not people. Even then, it seems pointless - it's not like goods get transported to space so often. Of course, the reason for that could be that there isn't a space elevator - but even then, why would we need to send goods to space? What's the purpose?

[MSandt]

The wikipedia page made me believe the elevator would be used for the transportation of goods, not people. Even then, it seems pointless - it's not like goods get transported to space so often. Of course, the reason for that could be that there isn't a space elevator - but even then, why would we need to send goods to space? What's the purpose?

Wow - you must be thinking something like ten years ahead or what?

[Sang]

I'm sorry, I'm not in the mood for decyphering your sarcasm/irony right now.

[Thedutchjelle]

That thin line going up the sky looks kinda thin.. like it can snap any moment.

Yeah, with all the wind in space...

In the first few kilometres it's still in te Earth's athmosphere. I know there isn't wind in space -- But don't you agree that that structure looks weak?

[DavoX]

Not really, You know, considering the amount of it you can see, it's probably thicker than a building.

[Puritan]

..... I know there isn't wind in space -- But don't you agree that that structure looks weak?

Oh yeah?
What about the Solar wind?
Huge amounts of particles bursts away from the surface of the sun and travel in tremendious speeds in every direction.
-  Some of these particles travels straight through the earth with almost no loss in speed.
-  Some particles will be stopped in the atmosphere.
-  Some particles interact with earths magnetic fields and creates natures most spectacular fireworks ; The Aurora or northern/southern light. In periods with large outbursts there will be huge damages on electrical and electronics both on earth and in space.
  These periods with huge outbursts is connected to the 'black spot' activity on the sun.


***

The general idea about this elevator is simple:

  It is very expencive to launch spacerockets directly from the surface of the earth.
The gravity is our enemy in this case.
If we had no gravity there would be very cheap to send both goods and personel into space.
So, it's all a question of costs.

  Some day it will be possible to move all goods up to a 'launch platform' in space. Then it would be some sort of 'transit area' for further exploration of space. 

[Sang]

I don't thinking building a huge elevator would be much cheaper than launching a rocket. And even then the elevator also needs to be able to escape gravity.

[James]

I don't thinking building a huge elevator would be much cheaper than launching a rocket. And even then the elevator also needs to be able to escape gravity.

But once it's built, that's it and apart from maintenence it'll make getting out of Earth's atmosphere alot easier and cheaper. As far as I know a significant part of the cost of Space Travel is the shitloads of energy we need to break out of our own atmosphere. Being able to get materials from Earth to a spacestation will save lots of money and make any extraterrestrial activities we do much more feasible.

[Sang]

Maybe so..

Then there is still a human problem - Let's assume the elevator works and it travels at such a speed that it can escape gravity.

The thing is, to escape gravity the speed would have to be really big so the pressure would be enormous. How many people would be able to deal with that? I don't know about you but if someone told me "yeah uh the pressure in the elevator when you're going up is huge" I'd be scared shitless and not willing to go in there.

Unless of course there are quality depressurizers out there but I'm thinking that's still SF - dunno though.

Also yeah I know it's for the transportation of goods but while we're at it, why not transport humans as well?

[DavoX]

I assume it would work with mechanisms instead of going at ultra speed, maybe I'm missing something?

[Trooper Dan]

Maybe so..

Then there is still a human problem - Let's assume the elevator works and it travels at such a speed that it can escape gravity.

The thing is, to escape gravity the speed would have to be really big so the pressure would be enormous. How many people would be able to deal with that? I don't know about you but if someone told me "yeah uh the pressure in the elevator when you're going up is huge" I'd be scared shitless and not willing to go in there.

Unless of course there are quality depressurizers out there but I'm thinking that's still SF - dunno though.

Also yeah I know it's for the transportation of goods but while we're at it, why not transport humans as well?

No no no no no.

Reaching escape velocity is relevant if you're talking about rockets, not elevators.

There's a lot of information in that wiki entry that would answer most of your questions.

[Sang]

No no no no no.

No?

[Hendricks266]

They would make the central ribbon of the elevator out of carbon nanotubes. They have already selected a location in the Pacific in a region of low lightning on an oil rig.