From: EvMick@aol.com
Date: Mon Mar 24 2003 - 20:18:54 MST
<A HREF="www.jamesphogan.com">www.jamesphogan.com</A> (bulletin board/ March 24)
More info on the space elevator.
<quote>
What makes the concept worth looking at again now is that by the authors'
calculations, carbon nanotube fibers possess the tensile strength to make
such a project feasible with a comfortable margin. In fact, they estimate
that a system capable of lifting a 13-ton payload to orbit every few days be
built in 10 years for a cost of $6 billion -- less than half NASA's annual
budget. The main obstacle at present is the lack of an infrastructure for
mass-producing carbon nanotube materials.
<unquote>
Also at Slashdot.
But I have a question.
It would appear to me that there is a significant voltage differential
between "way up there" and "ground". Things like the ionosphere, red
sprites, blue dwarves.......etc (come to mind)
"It aint nice to short circuit mother earth".
zzzzzzzzztttt!!!
In fact....many, many years ago I read a book called "Shiva"....which dealt
with a similar concept (short circuiting the ionosphere) as a means of Power
Generation.
EvMick
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