Space Elevators
For many years people have been directing their eyes to the stars, wondering what life may await us in their embrace.
Space travel has been fascinating our species for a very long time, we are constantly trying to develop new and better methods of sending our ships / satellites and other devices into space. One of the biggest obstacles that makes it difficult for us to conquer stars is our planet, and more specifically its gravity and atmosphere.
SpaceX Falcon-9 Demo-2 launch
Due to these two factors, we are forced to use a huge amount of raw materials to be able to send the ship itself into the orbit of our planet. It is also in this phase (apart from returning to Earth) that the greatest amount of damage and threats may occur.
SpaceX rocket and Israeli satellite destroyed in launch pad explosion
And here comes the space elevator to the rescue, what is a space elevator you might ask? Space Elevator is a structure used to lift objects from the surface of the planet into space. Also referred to in the literature as a tethered satellite, space bridge or orbital tower. There are several concepts for the operation of such an elevator. The most common one involves dropping a rope or ribbon from a satellite in geostationary orbit all the way to the surface of the planet. Properly designed vehicles could climb this line, reaching orbit much cheaper than using rockets, which would allow us to give up huge cargo holds holding large amounts of fuel and allocate them for completely different purposes. However, building such an elevator on Earth would require a rope that would not break under its own weight over a length of 36,000 kilometers. None of the materials produced today meet this requirement. Potentially, however, fibers made of carbon nanotubes or giant carbon tubes could be used in the future. Additionally, in the case of planets with a much lower force of gravity and a thinner atmosphere, the construction of such an elevator would probably be possible now due to the requirement of much less durable materials.
(https://hackaday.com/2018/09/14/one-small-step-for-a-space-elevator/)
A ray of hope appeared for the space elevator project. All thanks to scientists from the Chinese Tsinghua University. For several years, they have been conducting intensive research on a special fiber of the future, which would be characterized by extraordinary abilities. All indications are that they finally managed to create something that is ideal for building a space elevator.
According to NASA's concept from over 10 years ago, the fiber required to build a space elevator must have a tensile strength of 7 gigapascals. Meanwhile, the material developed by the Chinese from Tsinghua University reaches as much as 80 gigapascals, and the theoretical strength is up to 300 gigapascals. The fiber is to be constantly improved, so we can expect even better performance in the future.
Here is short a video about Space Elevator:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPQQwqGWktE
Questions:
What do you think about the space elevator concept, is it achievable?
Have you heard of other ideas similar to space elevator?
This might sound a little grim but, do you think our civilization will survive long enough to have any chances for a more advanced space journey?
Would you like to take a space elevator if you had an opportunity?
Sources:
https://pl.qaz.wiki/wiki/Space_elevator
https://hackaday.com/2018/09/14/one-small-step-for-a-space-elevator/
I think that I don’t have enough knowledge to determine whether the space elevator can become true one day but looking for technology growth nowadays makes me thinking that nothing is impossible. I keep my fingers crossed and believe that one day we’ll hear about it on TV that we can go to space with the elevator. Maybe it’s not the same but I remember when Red Bull was organizing human jump from the stratosphere. When I’ve heard about it I thought that it’s almost impossible but it turned out to be true and even has finished successfully. I think that I’ll take a chance to go to space If it will be common and available for people but after some time. I want others to be experimental rabbits.
ReplyDelete1. Hmmm .... I think the concept of a space elevator may be achievable in the next century. Especially when we have scientists already working on it, and technological advances are at such a high level. It's likely that such a space elevator would be used primarily by researchers and engineers who will have some sort of closer goal for space travel.
ReplyDelete2. Unfortunately, I haven't heard of any other such ideas.
3. I think that our civilization can survive enough long because we are constantly adapting to the world around us and we are able to change our lifestyle.
4. I think I would like to use the space elevator out of curiosity and a new experience, but I don't know what purpose it would serve, but these experience could be interesting.
If the space elevator was to be used for commercial purposes for "ordinary mortals" and not for scientists, it could probably be viewpoint used to admire the cosmos or if such an elevator led to a larger complex, there could be, for example, hotels etc.
DeleteIt seems very unlikely that we will see space elevators in our lifetime. But science has surprised us many times, we managed to invent things much faster than estimated (for example covid-19 vaccine). I don’t have a proper knowledge to guess if we will “survive long enough” to build this kind of solutions for space journey, or to say if the space elevator concept is achievable. I really like it though and I would love to try it, I dreamed of going to space since I was a kid 😊. I haven’t heard about any similar ideas, I’m not even sure if there are any.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that sometimes the pace of scientific development can surprise us a lot and sometimes, after many years of waiting and a technological blockage, there is a huge breakthrough and the rapid development of a given technology. I am curious if we will live to see such a breakthrough in the case of space flight. Such a small breakthrough could be the tests and development of reusable boosters created by SpaceX.
DeleteWhat do you think about the space elevator concept, is it achievable?
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting concept, I have already read about it once and I think that it's quite real, but nevertheless I think that most likely scientists will come up with something new, some other way, more practical.
Have you heard of other ideas similar to space elevator?
I can't recall because I have not been interested in this topic for a long time. I know one theory, it's about another, about the concept of a hyper-jump, which I think is known to everyone and is almost always present in films about space. So scientists have found a way to implement it, it will not be a "jump" like in a movie, something like a teleport, but the effect will be similar, maybe I will write an article about it next semester.
This might sound a little grim but, do you think our civilization will survive long enough to have any chances for a more advanced space journey?
Definitely not for our age or the age of our children, and if humanity does not destroy itself, then yes, I think people once will use similar technologies. There is one good expression: while we are looking for signs of intelligent life outside our planet, we are losing them here ....
Would you like to take a space elevator if you had an opportunity?
If I had a couple of hundred million to spare, then I would not mind flying into space right now xD
Good old hyper jump concept, I've also heard about theories where black holes would be used for such jumps. But in my opinion, this technology is even more advanced than space elevators, so it's hard to say if we will ever achieve something similar.
DeleteWhat do you think about the space elevator concept, is it achievable?
ReplyDeleteYes, I think it's achievable but not soon, maybe in next century. But it brings another question , would be it useful back then? Maybe during that time we develop new ways to conquer the universe :)
Have you heard of other ideas similar to space elevator?
I don't think I heard about similar project, maybe apart from "Space tourism" from Virgin and SpaceX
This might sound a little grim but, do you think our civilization will survive long enough to have any chances for a more advanced space journey?
It's hard to tell.In normal circumstances probably no, but if we (as humanity) have to do it it's a high chance to achieve it.
Would you like to take a space elevator if you had an opportunity?
I have big problem for getting into a plane, because i'm not comfortable being outside a hard land. So on this matter it's hard pass for me
As for the usefulness of the elevator in the future, it seems to me that they would be an ideal complement to vehicles powered by ion thrusters. Ion thruster by itself is not powerful enough to help ship break throughout the atmosphere, but is a great solution for traveling in space. They do not require too much "fuel" which is xenon and mainly rely on electricity that could be produced by solar panels on the vehicle.
DeleteI think it's a great idea. First of all its environment-friendly solution. The other advantage is saving fuel and time to prepare a machine which is planned to be elevated.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really sure but I think I've heard about future projects of elevators meant to be vehicles for humans. It would be a big opportunity for an awesome adventure for people on earth. It's a lot of people's dream to visit space.
Civilization certainly will survive until that time in my honest opinion. Technology develops itself and is developed by people with speed greater than ever before. Everything is possible nowadays.
As I said before I would really like that. It's kind of my dream ;)
The successful construction of such a space elevator, in my opinion, would be a huge breakthrough and would allow people to explore the space much more accurate and deeper. The only problem that comes to my mind is space debris, which is already a very big threat to objects sent by people into space.
DeleteIt is achievable for sure, but not now or in the near future. The idea is very interesting and would solve fuel problems as mentioned in the article.
ReplyDeleteI have not heard of any kind of elevator or similar ideas. I do not follow that much tech news.
It is a tricky question but I hope our civilization will develop such machines especially for space exploration.
It is hard to say, whether I would use it or not, but at the moment I think I would pass. I do not feel comfortable on heights.
The only thing I associate with space elevator is Nero's video for the single "Innocence": D It was some manga - but I recommend the song.
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, it's an interesting idea. I don't know much about space technology, so I can't say much about it. However, human creativity surprises me every day. Looking at what is happening in the world today, I believe it is highly probable that humanity will unfortunately not live that long to achieve so advanced technology to make an interstellar journey. May I be wrong. We can't deal with the crap on our planet currently. There may not be enough time to destroy others.
If only I could, I would have boarded this elevator and asked for the top floor. One way.
What worries me the most is that if we continue to litter our planet and use its resources without thinking about future generations, we will soon be forced to think not about how to make our planet a better place, but how to escape from it. We are approaching the critical moment faster and faster in which the damage to our planet will be irreversible.
DeleteThe idea of a space elevator concept sounds abstract. Yet the first designs of modern machines also sounded like that. I think that at this point it is not achievable, but who knows what will happen in a dozen or so years. The cost of such an elevator would have to be very high...
ReplyDeleteI have not heard of similar ideas. I can only think of the movie "Back to the Future", where there were air highways that were supposed to be according to the movie in 2020 😄
I think scientists will be mostly concerned with inventing how to save the planet than traveling into space. Although it could be two connected things.
True, I'm a bit afraid that someday there may come a moment when scientists will no longer think how to make our planet a better place for humans, but how we can escape just to survive another day.
DeleteIf we were to start a mining operation on the Moon, then it might become a viable alternative to launching refined ore directly from the surface, in terms of fuel economy. Construction would be quite challenging. The base of elevator would need to be firmly embedded deep into the lunar surface (probably at the lunar equator on the central median), but I think this could be happend.
ReplyDeleteIf I had an opportunity or small chance to take a space elevator i will do this iwth love. We have only some smal chances to do or check something with our lives, so why not? :)
1. Wow, such a crazy vision! I have no idea if it can work. I'll be watching it for sure. It sounds as impossible to achieve as the ideas of Elon Musk :D
ReplyDelete2. No, unfortunately. I suspect that maybe Space X may be interested in it because they like to challenge and do what is unattainable.
3. Hmm, I think that not our generation, but the next generation as much as possible and people will be watching and keep finger crossed for them :)
4. Sure you do! Watching channels such as Scifun or Astrophase, you can fall in love with space and in the desire to discover it, I heartily recommend if any of you have not had the opportunity to see it yet.
Oh, I never heard of the Astrophase channel, I might give it a go. It's crazy how many ideas there are for space exploration. Most of them will probably turn out to be ineffective, but whoever does not risk does not drink champagne :D
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard about space elevator but I find this idea genius. Space exploration is fascinating and it’s more and more intense since we are aiming to colonize Mars. It would be perfect to achieve such innovative solution like space elevator. After reading this article and watching the video I more than keen to believe such project could actually be realized. If I was a billionaire I would definitely become an investor in this project:)
ReplyDeleteOne of many pros of space elevator is it would eliminate the production of space debris which are left after sending ships and satellites with powerful rockets.
I believe the chances that our civilization survive until this idea would be possible are quite high since the discovery of Chinese scientists. Beside the industry of material engineering develops fast and we may soon be able to create rope strong enough. If I ever had a chance to climb to space with a space elevator I would definitely do that it would be the best thing ever!
Thank you fo the comment! What is more exciting is that if we already had a foothold on mars or moon, the construction of a space elevator would most likely be possible with the current technology. In the case of this structure, I am wondering how big is the threat to it and the chance of being hit by a meteor and how this could be prevented.
DeleteI don't follow new technologies and projects related to this topic, so it's hard for me to say whether such an idea is realistic. However, I believe that it's very important to find a way to reduce or eliminate the problem of space clutter.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I have not heard of other ideas of this type.
I think that technology is developing at such a pace that there are certainly many groundbreaking discoveries and solutions that will enable us to make wonderful discoveries.
Sure! It would definitely make a great impression on me!