If a space elevator happened, I would certainly make sure I don’t live in its flattening path around the equator
mech@feddit.org 11 hours ago
We have a free eternal source of energy.
It’s called solar.
If a space elevator became a reality, the real problem would be that it can get destroyed easily by terrorists or even just a defective satellite in low earth orbit crashing into it.
And then you have a 20000 mile long cable crashing down on earth at supersonic speeds.
TheLeadenSea@sh.itjust.works 11 hours ago
funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works 10 hours ago
wouldn’t it be a 125–250 mile cable tops?
mech@feddit.org 10 hours ago
No, the other end needs to be in geostationary orbit. Otherwise the wrapping of the cable around the equator will start a lot sooner.
UnspecificGravity@piefed.social 8 hours ago
How do you anchor the end in space so that you don’t just retract the cable every time you try to use it?
mech@feddit.org 8 hours ago
That’s the neat thing about geostationary orbit. If the station at the upper end has enough mass, its own centrifugal force keeps it anchored in its orbit.
CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world 8 hours ago
If you figure that out give NASA a call, they’d be real interested.
black_flag@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 hours ago
Oops we accidentally cut earth like a big wheel of cheese
SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 11 hours ago
Yum!