From: Erik Reuter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: Killer Bs Discussion <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Killer Bs Discussion <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Clarke To Address Los Alamos Space-Elevator Conference Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2003 15:24:26 -0400
On Sun, Sep 14, 2003 at 02:59:09PM -0400, Jon Gabriel wrote:
> >From: "Robert Seeberger" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >Reply-To: Killer Bs Discussion <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >Subject: Clarke To Address Los Alamos Space-Elevator Conference
> >Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2003 08:53:53 -0500
> >
> >http://www.spacedaily.com/news/materials-03za.html
> >
>
> *shudder*
>
> Somebody at Los Alamos better read KSR's Mars trilogy before they build
> that thing. A single well-aimed ballistic missile would leave elevator
> parts killing thousands or millions as they descended at 1000+ mph all over
> the planet. A space elevator would need advanced missile defense systems,
> tightly controlled airspace and a battallion of troops at both anchor
> points at the very least.
That's not a problem if you build it as a very thin ribbon, as several others gave references for here previously (I guess you missed that thread?).
I did miss that one, thanks. Will hunt through the archives when I have a bit more time. :)
The real problem is making the material. So far, no one has made any significant lengths of it and tested it to see if it behaves as predicted.
Yes or no answer is ok, since I'll read the more about it in the archive: Would the proposed tensile strength be enough to handle several hundred pounds of humans & equipment at a time?
Just curious!
Thanks, Erik.
Jon
Le Blog: http://zarq.livejournal.com
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