What is Digg?40 Comments
- jbrader, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"this wouldn't be an easy target for terrorists."
Yes that's true, and so is any other building, vehicle, gathering place, person, country, state city, etc. Who ***** cares, that's not a good reason not to build something, get over yourself. - EviLiu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Neat project.
I agree with blhack and jefferson. - Jon2x4, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0WTF is going on here!
- bdunbar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"This sounds like a very stupid idea, kind of along the lines of CD players that played LPs as well, or combination horse and buggy/internal combustion engine transports."
I'd sure be interested in seeing a CD player that you could fit an LP into. Or any reference to a vehicle that combined an IC engine with a horse. Mind for your analogy to hold up you need to show that the context of IC and horse was implausible in the context. - tgilhou, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Buzz/Brian,
you're my hero.
Terri G - nortonbl, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Ha! Lift!
Nevermind.
-Bri - baltakatei, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0If this project works out, putting a man into orbit would cost a few thousand dollars USD rather than a few *hundred* thousand. The first country that develops this technology will have a huge advantage in space since no expensive chemical rockets would be needed to escape the gravity well. This definately worthy of a digg.
- Midnightbrewer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Actually, a space elevator is very doable, assuming the ribbon is strong enough. Over a distance of 35,000+ kilometers, even a very strong storm Earthside is going to seem pretty insignificant to the ribbon itself (although it would probably ground the lifters.) This is one of the reasons why they are planning on anchoring the elevator in a location that isn't in the path of nasty hurricanes and suchlike. I agree with bman001, though; there's going to have to be some sort of protection from orbital space junk, or the space elevator is going to be finished before it even gets started. As a matter-of-fact, LiftPort agrees, and also has a very useful FAQ on their home page that answers all of your questions and then some: http://www.liftport.com/faq2.php
- oxigen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I read about this in Pop Sci a month ago, interesting to see that it's actually being tested like that.
- monolith, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0WTF!!! Infrakingcredible.
- Sciscitor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The idea of a space elevator is that the centrifugal force of the "ribbon" is approximately equal to the gravity exerted on it by earth. This can be achieved by making a very, very long ribbon, or by attaching a heavy object (asteroid, space station...) to the end of a shorter ribbon. So rockets would only be necessary to keep the ribbon from drifting too much, not to kepp it in space.
- -Jaguar-, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"If the ribbon is cut, the counterweight will be flung, at a very fast speed, out of Earth orbit. It could be a good opportunity to do some planetary research." - From their web site, pretty cool.
So, they are planning to run a ribbon into space. I don't know much about physics, but wouldn't the weight of the ribbon, robots, and items bring down the counterweight? Plus for the amount of fuel to keep it steady in orbit, I think a rocket would be more economical. - iamserious, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0This sounds like a very stupid idea, kind of along the lines of CD players that played LPs as well, or combination horse and buggy/internal combustion engine transports.
Repair of this thing SHOULD cable/tubing/whatever line is being used break ALONE makes it a foolhardy venture.
"NEXT!" - shiftlock, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0WTF!
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0> 100 years ago they dint have nano fiber tubes...
> stronger than diamonds.
...still in testtubes and plasma chambers.
When I can buy buckeyball nanotube lines for my yacht, wake me up.
...have a nice day. - Hypnos, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The same kind of nay saying was going on when we said we would go to the moon. The truth is we need the space elevator if we want to have any kind of viable space program.The technology is still ten years away at least, but its sure not impossible.
- bdunbar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0anonymoustroll,
You are a sad, strange, little man. You have my pity. - Thundercat71, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Three simple words:
WILL
NEVER
WORK
Look at some popular mechanics magazines from 100 years ago, and they had the same ideas for crazy crap that just is impossible or impractical. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0> Actually, a space elevator is very doable [in theory]
Actually, the materials to do this don't exist yet... and it may be questionable if they could brought into existence.
> first stray airplane wing to rip that ribbon in two.
That may be a problem during the first couple of years during the initial build-out, but the airplane had better watch out for it's own sake after that.
> Plus for the amount of fuel to keep it steady in orbit,
> I think a rocket would be more economical.
Nobody know what the structural dynamics of a very long load bearing line that exists in a vacuum at one end, descending through an atmosphere with 100s of mile per hour winds (relative) and 100kv lightening strikes, attached to a ground that shakes, being used by creatures that will try to push as much weight as possible up it will be. The engineering challenge is likely to be well above the par set by the early rocket scientists who spent a good long time blowing ***** up (unintentionally) before getting it right enough to be acceptable to use for infrequent human transport of subject who have expressed their willingness to die for the chance to go into space (what's the most significant difference between a Jihadist and an Astronaut? Their budget. (rim shot)). - brainache, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Clever idea, very very neat. If it happens, i will be ecstatic, but at the moment... well who knows.
- monolith, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0100 years ago they dint have nano fiber tubes... stronger than diamonds.
- bdunbar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Ah, the lazyweb. I'd never heard of digg until my standing rss search on icerocket dug up the this thread. Looks like a nifty site.
> That's using the carbon nanotubes right?
> posted by treelovinhippie (1)
We're not using CNT for the ribbon in this round of tests. We're working on the lifter and related technology right now.
> "One fleck of metal at the right speed would slice that tether in two."
> posted by bman001 (0)
Well, no. The ribbon can be designed to be damage resistent for objects up to a certain size. Flecks of paint are probably not going to be a problem.
> "I don't know much about physics, but wouldn't the weight
> of the ribbon, robots, and items bring down the counterweight?
> Plus for the amount of fuel to keep it steady in orbit,
> I think a rocket would be more economical"
> posted by -Jaguar- (0)
Well, no. I suggest a quick read of "NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts Phase II Space Elevator Final Report at http://www.liftport.com/files/521Edwards.pdf
> "Like I said, it's a very cool idea, but probably a very bad idea. "
> bman001 (0)
Why do you think so?
> "Actually, the materials to do this don't exist yet... and it may be questionable
> if they could brought into existence.
> anonymoustroll (0)
For several years now Dr. Edwards has been carrying around a CNT composite in his briefcase. He pulls this out to demonstrate the concept. Granted his sample is not nearly strong enough for our needs, and is (IIRC) only 2% nano in the composite but still. What you've said is like claiming that, yes, they've got wrought iron but making steel is impossible. Meanwhile Henry Bessemer is out in the factory perfecting his process ...
Brian Dunbar
Liftport - ylocav, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0>The idea of an orbital "space elevator" has been around for a long time. Arthur C. >Clarke even postulated it in Songs Of A Distant Earth.
actually it was Fountains of Paradise, although it may have been briefly mentioned in Songs. pretty good read, mentioned most, if not all of the issues i've seen here, although since i'm not a physicist, i don't know whether his solutions would work. it will be interesting to see how this pans out... - daleallenbaker, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Even if they just use it to move stuff from here to there, this is freaking awesome.
- Thundercat71, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0ok, heres some nice space elevator questions:
how do you get a cable from an anchored spot on the ground to space?
wouldn't pulling up an elevator just pull down the space end?
wouldn't this thing stretch like crazy being miles and miles long?
wouldn't a relatively small force tangential to the space anchor just send the thing down like a giant pendulum?
and my favorite...
Since this thing would most likely act like a giant Ben Franklin kite string, don't you think that MULTIPLE lighting bolts traveling the length of this just MIGHT damage it? I seem to remember that lightning bolts are hotter than the surface of the sun.
This thing just screams crackpot. Now excuse me while I unfold my briefcase into a car and fly home. - Corrosionx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Stupid FAA always slowing things down
- Serovic, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0>The truth is we need the space elevator if we want to have any kind >of viable space program
There is another alternative. Build a really long mag-rail “like those floating trains� and have the end gradually go up a mountain then accelerate stuff for along time on the ground tell it reaches escape velocity and it just comes of the end of the rail and heads off into orbit. - treelovinhippie, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0That's using the carbon nanotubes right?
- xelloss, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Whats next a Stair Way to Heaven? o Wait, they tried that already.
- blhack, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1why does this not have 400 trillion diggs yet. This is ***** amazing monumental work! Oh, now i get it......if this was called an iLift nano, and was made of white plastic..this would have 9 quintillion diggs. Don't even try to argue that it wouldn't because you know that its true.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0> > > stronger than diamonds.
> > [...] Dr. Edwards has been carrying around a CNT [...]
>...still in test tubes and plasma chambers.
..and briefcases; I rest my case (so to speak). Does he hang around with that zero point energy guy too?
> [...] quick read of "NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts [...]
NASA is right up there with Popular Mechanics when it comes to the "throw it against the wall, let it stand for two years and see if it sticks/stinks" department. Just because some long-haired, hippie scientist who's been held up in some NASA cave for the past 10 years gets his crack pot ideas put in ink, on paper doesn't mean they're a sure thing. Far, far from it. In fact, I believe the last little tether experiment NASA actually performed in space resulted in dismal, complete, total failure... and scared the ***** out of them so much that they decided not to pursue them any longer (tethered blimps... hahaha... you *MUST* be joking).
> Brian Dunbar
> Liftport
Ahhh... yeah. (snif)... hurmph... what's that smell? Ah, yes, I remember that smell. It's the smell of *FEAR*. My mild skepticism is the absolute least of you're worries. The fact that you're even bothering to reply in such a lowly forum means you're completely fscked. - innternal, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I kinda want to see an Escaltor to nowhere - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0> The same kind of nay saying was going on when
> we said we would go to the moon.
...and we haven't been back since. What a huge fscking waste of time, money and energy. When I look back at my father's space propaganda (circa 1965/66/67), I can help but think how exceptionally deluded they were back then and I relish the ironic justice that will probably befall my dad (having believe so fervently in space exploration and still having it be out of his reach when he dies).
Just because you *can* do something doesn't mean that it's a good idea or that it should be done. Space is a pretty hostile place. Unless there's some sort of quantum leap in technology / philosophy (keep in mind that 100s of 1000s of years of evolution have made human being entirely unsuited for living in space), colonization of space is just a pipe dream pursued by people with very large egos, small penises and a deep seated need to keep the public at large distracted from far more important issues.
> stronger than diamonds.
Which aren't particularly strong (just hard in one or two particular dimensions). They also burn real nice... better than coal in the energy storage department.
> actually it was Fountains of Paradise [...]
Science Fiction authors think all sorts of wild, imaginary ***** up. If 1/10 of the vast amount of idle speculation and outright crap they vomit into their writing ends up looking even vaguely like currently technology/science, they're heralded at "Pioneers" and "Futurists". Might as well believe in Intelligent Design if you ask me. - jefferson, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0/what blhack said freeking jehovah apple witnesses
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0this so so stupid it will never work. any idiot with a kite can build an "elevator" one mile high! I can let ants ride it! Totally gay. About as doable as time travel and anti-gravity. I can't belive people waste their time on this crap junk science. I say let the idiots at mythbuster do it. Now their is a couple of goons! Why don't they just tie a rope to the moon?
- birdadderley, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0this is so stupid. Please DDoS these mofos. What kind of insurance are they going to use? Geico? The only type you can buy to use it is life insurance, and it will pay in handy when you die, because a storm/hurricane pushed your elevator 100 miles off course and snapped the supa-"carbon" "ribbon". Whoops? "C'mon kids, let's go take a ride on the elevator to space that runs on light." If this goes through... it's the Shuttle Disasters Part 2.
treelovinhippie... take a physics class. If I ever hear you use nanotube again in a sentence, I will smite thee; you are probably thinking of bank-tube technology.
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