Still, since the whole thing is pie-in-the-sky <snicker>, we can invent all sorts of technical gizmo's to make it work.

Yes...instead of an elevator, just hang a wire from xx thousand miles up (geo-stationary) and harvest the energy?? Would enough Statis Electricty be generated to make it profitable?

Lt

I think this was attempted by NASA on an idea from prof. Giuseppe Colombo of Padua University, but the attempt was interrupted because it was too dangerous. BepiColombo is the name of an ESA scientific satellite, to be launched.
Tullio

---

I think this was attempted by NASA on an idea from prof. Giuseppe Colombo of Padua University, but the attempt was interrupted because it was too dangerous. BepiColombo is the name of an ESA scientific satellite, to be launched.
Tullio

Thanks Tullio, I'll look for some info about that satellite.

Was that the experiment on one of the Shuttles that let out a trailing wire? IIRC, the wire broke before the experiment was concluded...or maybe even really started??


Lt

I thought they, on a later flight, had some success with the tether. Even so this points to the enormous logistical problems associated with constructing a space elevator. I have yet to read anything that outlines a workable plan to build one, even ignoring all the junk in earth orbit.

---

Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.