How fast space elevator

Not only this, but the experts also concluded that space elevator development might be a lot closer than we'd think, largely due to potential developments in the manufacturing of macro-scale, single-crystal graphene — a material with higher strength than most nanotubes.

There are two alternatives to the space elevator which are essentially variations on the original concept. One of these is StarTram, a concept image below for a space elevator that would shoot rockets into orbit via a high-speed maglev rail track.

The other alternative, which was proposed only last year by astrophysicists Zephyr Penoyre, from the University of Cambridge in the UK, and Emily Sandford from Columbia University in New York, would see a tether dangled down from the Moon, which would allow objects to be slingshot into space. Due to this, the Red Planet's stationary orbit is much closer to its surface than Earth's.

Therefore, a space elevator on a future Mars colony could be much shorter. Existing materials are already strong enough to make such an elevator. An object attached to a space elevator at a radius of roughly 53, km would already be at escape velocity when released from its tether.

In other words, it would have enough speed to escape the Earth's gravity. A gravitational slingshot around Jupiter could then allow a craft to pick up enough speed to travel further into space. So, a space elevator could conceivably allow us to explore the cosmos like never before. As crazy as it seems, we might one day be using such gigantic structures to slingshot payloads and spacecraft into orbit and perhaps even into deep space , and this might just happen sooner than we think.

By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. By Chris Young. Even with adequate materials, space elevators might be highly unstable. Gravitational tugs from the Moon and Sun, as well as pressure from gusts of solar wind, could shake the tether, potentially causing the elevator to crash into nearby satellites or space junk.

Thrusters might be needed to keep the tether in line. The culprit is the Coriolis force, which deflects objects that are moving in a rotating system. But I agree, it makes the most sense to transmit the power via microwaves or laser. Note that this configuration requires very strong ribbon materials, as the ribbon cannot taper. Bob Munck Bob Munck 51 2 2 bronze badges. A slow, uncomfortable ride, but still immensely cheaper and safer than rockets, and the shielding material will be reusable at GEO.

It's both very expensive and unnecessary to use the SE to go down. Bob Jenkins Bob Jenkins 11 1 1 bronze badge. It seems the external link you've provided is not reachable. You might want to correct it. Sign up or log in Sign up using Google. Sign up using Facebook. Sign up using Email and Password. Post as a guest Name. Email Required, but never shown. The Overflow Blog.

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Now live: A fully responsive profile. Linked Related 6. Hot Network Questions. Question feed. Accept all cookies Customize settings. But the moon-based spaceline would orbit just once a month—a much slower rate with correspondingly lower forces. In extending from the moon to Earth, the spaceline would pass through a region of space where terrestrial and lunar gravity cancel each other out.

This region, known as a Lagrange point, becomes a central feature of a spaceline. Beneath it, closer to Earth, gravity pulls the cable toward the planet. But above it, closer to the moon, gravity pulls the cable toward the lunar surface. But the cable need not stretch all the way to be useful.

They go on to suggest that a proof-of-principle device made from a cable about the thickness of a pencil lead could be dangled from the moon at a cost measured in billions of dollars. The savings would be huge. And it would open up an entirely new region of space to exploration—the Lagrange point.

This is of interest because both gravity and the gravity gradient in this region is zero, making it much safer for construction projects. By contrast, the gravity gradient in low Earth orbit causes orbits to be much less stable.

Neither is there any significant debris in this region. For these reasons, Penoyre and Sandford say access to the Lagrange point is major advantage of the spaceline.