The idea of an elevator into space is not a new one. First contemplated by a Russian scientist in 1895,
it was not truly popularized until Arthur C. Clarke’s novel Fountains of Paradise in 1978.
The idea is so simple, it seems absurd. A tether is extended from the surface of the earth, and using a
combination of gravity and centrifugal force, is extended outwards. Vehicles can then scale this tether,
removing the need for costly rockets.
Arthur C. Clarke claims that the space elevator is an attainable goal, and we will have one “about 10 years
after people stop laughing.” However, before it can be constructed, there are many engineering issues that
need to be worked out. This page is not the end all, and contains no breakthroughs or answers. However,
it does include some interesting information that may aid in answering questions about this subject:
If you're going to build a 62,000 km rope, what would you use?. This application ends up being
a gigantic tug of war. With gravity pulling down, and centrifugal force pulling up, the material has to be
very strong just to hold its own weight, let alone the additional load of the elevator’s “car.” Until the
early 1990’s, no such material was known. In 1991, carbon nanotubes were discovered. Although not
currently a feasible option, current research in this topic may lead to breakthroughs very soon.
How do you build a vehicle capable of climbing a tether into space, under its own power? This leads to another
engineering feat for this project is a climber. It may seem like this is a simple extension of modern
robotics, many of the caveats of this application require further research and experimentation.
With any large structure, a major question on everyone's mind is "is it safe?" For something like a several
thousand kilometer high freestanding elevator, there are two questions: "is it safe for the occupants/cargo?"
and "is it safe for everyone/everything else?"
The last question, and possibly the most important of all: "How much is this going to cost?" If its not
economically feasible, all of the research in the world will not make it happen. No matter how you look at it,
a project like this will be a very expensive endeavor.
Also, be sure to view the bibliography if you find this intriguing. Not only does it contain links to the information
within this webpage, it contains much more in greater detail.