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ERRORIST

Member

From: OXFORD ALABAMA

Registered: 2004-01-28

Posts: 1,182

Re: Sooner than thought space elevator

Wow with this new technology the space elevator is right around the corner. Perhaps, a few years.
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/nanotech … 4zzzz.html

GCNRevenger

Member

From: Earth

Registered: 2003-10-14

Posts: 6,056

Re: Sooner than thought space elevator

Not really, the problem with making a space elevator is with the nanotubes, not with making materials out of them. The nanotubes today are too short, too irregular, and don't bond well enough to the binder.

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[i]"The power of accurate observation is often called cynicism by those that do not have it." - George Bernard Shaw[/i]

[i]The glass is at 50% of capacity[/i]

MarsDog

Member

From: vancouver canada

Registered: 2004-03-24

Posts: 852

Re: Sooner than thought space elevator

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000 … ]According to Smitherman, construction is not feasible today but it could be toward the end of the 21st century. "First we'll develop the technology," said Smitherman. "In 50 years or so, we'll be there. Then, if the need is there, we'll be able to do this. That's the gist of the report."

Seems a long way.

flashgordon

Member

Registered: 2003-01-21

Posts: 314

Re: Sooner than thought space elevator

regardless of the space elevator concept, I'm wondering what the latest work on nanotubes will have on spacecraft construction . . . .

Shaun Barrett

Member

From: Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Registered: 2001-12-28

Posts: 2,843

Re: Sooner than thought space elevator

According to Arthur C. Clarke, the most prominent failures in the history of predictions about science and technology have involved "a failure of nerve".
    Most 'experts' tend to underestimate the pace of development and err significantly on the pessimistic side - often to their eventual embarrassment.
                                             

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The word 'aerobics' came about when the gym instructors got together and said: If we're going to charge $10 an hour, we can't call it Jumping Up and Down.   - Rita Rudner

Shaun Barrett

Member

From: Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Registered: 2001-12-28

Posts: 2,843

Re: Sooner than thought space elevator

By the way, ERRORIST, there are 7 OTHER THREADS IN 'SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY' dealing specifically with space elevators, and you had to start another one!
                                                                     

    It would make a lot more sense to look through the titles and try to continue an already-open thread, than to continually create new ones. It makes finding old posts much more difficult if there are several different headings to search through for basically the same subject.

[Sorry, Adrian and Josh, I'm not deliberately trying to usurp your authority or anything. Just making a friendly suggestion.    ]

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The word 'aerobics' came about when the gym instructors got together and said: If we're going to charge $10 an hour, we can't call it Jumping Up and Down.   - Rita Rudner