Comment on If a Space Elevator became a reality, wouldn't the cable act as a kind of wick for all of the unfiltered radiation from outside our atmosphere?

heyWhatsay@slrpnk.net ⁨11⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

• anomnom@sh.itjust.works ⁨10⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

  Yeah the dearth of destruction left by it falling would be insane. I assume it would have to be built along mainly west coasts to mitigate risks.

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  • I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world ⁨7⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    Dearth means “a striking lack of,” as in “dearth of evidence.” (No evidence)

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  • SpacetimeMachine@lemmy.world ⁨8⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    By the necessities of its design a space elevator has to reach geostationary orbit, which would make it tall enough to wrap around the planet twice if it fell. Wouldn’t really matter if you built it on a west coast or not.

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    • deranger@sh.itjust.works ⁨7⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

      A geostationary orbit is ~35,000km from the surface of the earth. The circumference of the earth is ~40,000km. It can’t wrap around once, nevermind twice.

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      • bufalo1973@piefed.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨hour⁩ ago

        And not all would fall. Part of it would be launched outwards by inertia.

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      • SpacetimeMachine@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

        Ah thanks, I was a dingus and looked up the diameter instead of the circumference. Still doesn’t really matter where you build it. No matter what it’s fucking up a a good portion of the equator if it falls.

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    • MotoAsh@piefed.social ⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

      Actually, a good ways passed geostationary orbit if I remember correctly. It needs centrifugal force to keep the cable taut, since it won’t be supporting its weight from the surface.

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