http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ F&SF Forum » Tag: wishful thinking - Recent Posts en Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:41:23 +0000 http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=1387#post-60324 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 23:23:58 +0000 oblomov 60324@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>As of yesterday we know it's possible to bail off of one of these things and have a safe, cushy landing! </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=1387#post-59889 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:55:31 +0000 Marian 59889@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Nice cartoon explanation <a href="http://www.gocomics.com/brewsterrockit/2012/10/14" rel="nofollow">http://www.gocomics.com/brewsterrockit/2012/10/14</a> </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=1387#post-22077 Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:46:00 +0000 geoffhart1962 22077@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>On the plus side, my understanding is that carbon nanotubes have high resistance to catching fire, so at least we wouldn't have to worry about a flaming Jacob's ladder falling upon us -- though I confess, I didn't track down any analyses about its resistance to the heat of re-entry.</p> <p>Dave Durgee noted "I'm not sure I would want to see this built before we can sort out the problems with terrorists."</p> <p>I used to feel that way about the Chunnel, but by the evidence, what I would have thought to be an easy and attractive terrorist target hasn't been attacked. Maybe the Homeland Security folks and their cousins overseas are doing a better job than we leftie Canucks would prefer to believe. </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=1387#post-22058 Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:15:28 +0000 dhdurgee 22058@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>I'm not sure I would want to see this built before we can sort out the problems with terrorists. I find the various stories written of terrorist attacks on such a facility and the consequences all too believable.</p> <p>Given this, perhaps building one on the moon first would be a good idea.</p> <p>Dave </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=1387#post-21850 Mon, 27 Aug 2012 03:10:50 +0000 Marian 21850@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>New space elevator idea for building one on the moon instead of earth. <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/space-elevator-project-shoots-moon-195012367.html" rel="nofollow">http://news.yahoo.com/space-elevator-project-shoots-moon-195012367.html</a> </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=1387#post-11564 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:06:21 +0000 JohnWThiel 11564@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>There's a lot like that to watch. Yabba Dabba Doo Jewelry in New Orleans might become a monopoly, or our golf course here might result in golf spreading to the moon. </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=1387#post-11561 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:08:47 +0000 Marian 11561@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Apparently, it all depends on getting the nanotube technology developed enough. It is exciting to think we might see this in our lifetime. A lot more practical than the space shuttle plus cheaper once it's built, I would imagine. </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=1387#post-11516 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:03:42 +0000 oblomov 11516@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>John: you could say that of literally any advancement in technology that poses any sort of theoretical risk. </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=1387#post-11515 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:40:44 +0000 JohnWThiel 11515@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Seems like it might turn into something like the Titanic disaster, including the hubris that was involved in that disaster.</p> <p>I'm reminded of the Tower of Beer Cans To the Moon. </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=1387#post-11514 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:57:02 +0000 GSH 11514@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p><em>The counterweight keeps enough tension on the stalk to keep it from falling back towards the center of rotation.</em></p> <p>A lot of the mass subject to centrifugal force would be distributed along the length of the cable itself. With a break high up, it might take a while for the cable to collapse. Maybe the earth's rotation would lay it out in a straight line?</p> <p>Still, I suppose it might be a good idea for the space cable operator to wear wear safety glasses. </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=1387#post-11513 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:37:21 +0000 geoffhart1962 11513@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>John wondered: "Would it be inclined to overbalance, or am I thinking of something that would overbalance?"</p> <p>Yes. *G*</p> <p>There's no worry about a space elevator "overbalancing" if you mean tipping to one side and falling. That's because it's not constructed like a pile of bricks stacked atop each other or like a skyscraper. The way such things work is much the way a ball on a string stays at the end of the string when you swing it around your head: centrifugal force* keeps it straight. Here, the ball at the end of the string is a counterweight that extends farther into space than the top of the elevator. The counterweight keeps enough tension on the stalk to keep it from falling back towards the center of rotation.</p> <p>* I know physicists are a bit leery about using the term, to which I have only one thing to say: eppur se muove.</p> <p>The more interesting question is what happens if the counterweight's tether snaps. In that case, you don't want to be anywhere down-gravity and down-rotation from the beanstalk. When it falls, it's a'gonna fall hard. </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=1387#post-11511 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:26:24 +0000 JohnWThiel 11511@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Would it be inclined to overbalance, or am I thinking of something that would overbalance? </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=1387#post-11509 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:28:52 +0000 Marian 11509@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Marsbound by Joe Haldeman has a chapter on riding a space elevator. It's very vivid and feels real. </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=1387#post-11506 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:31:46 +0000 geoffhart1962 11506@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p><a href="http://gizmodo.com/5887210/japan-will-have-a-space-elevator-by-2050" rel="nofollow">http://gizmodo.com/5887210/japan-will-have-a-space-elevator-by-2050</a></p> <p>I suspect they're being unduly optimistic about the state of carbon nanotube technology, but it's exciting to think that (with a little luck) I might just live long enough to see this happen! </p>