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/sci/ - Science & Math

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5018153 No.5018153 [Reply] [Original]

see, crowdfunding is useful for science too

A space elevator project has already pledged 50k dollars

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/michaellaine/space-elevator-science-climb-to-the-sky-a-tethered

>> No.5018174

Only 700 billion more to go!

>> No.5018191

One tech at a time.

>> No.5018195

>space elevator

A proven method of asteroid capture and an inexpensive version of nanotech are required.

>> No.5018198 [DELETED] 

>Helium balloons
>Space
What?

>> No.5018200

>>5018195

they are starting with a moon elevator wich is feasible with today tech

>> No.5018201

>Helium balloons
>2km
>Space
What?

>> No.5018202

>>5018200
It's 240,000 miles away. It is not feasible without a source of heavy metals in space. In other words, you need a heavy asteroid.

>> No.5018206

>>5018202

Before we can build Earth’s Elevator, we’ll need to build one on the Moon. It is significantly easier, and much much cheaper. Importantly - we can build it with current technology – in about eight years.

To meet our target date, we need to complete a 1-year Feasibility Study, beginning next year. That will cost $3M. I don’t expect to raise that through this Kickstarter campaign. But I’m throwing it out there so you know what’s ahead for this program. (But if you’re feeling generous – surprise me! All kidding aside, if you think the rewards we’ve got for Kickstarter are good, you should talk to us about the ‘rewards’ if you fund our Study!)

This Lunar Elevator is a new effort. It is part of LiftPort's revival program. This system can be built now, while Earth’s Elevator requires several more breakthroughs. We think we should focus on building this Lunar Space Elevator Infrastructure (LSEI or “Elsie”) as a prerequisite to the main goal.

>> No.5018209

>>5018206
Ohh, I thought you meant a structure spanning the distance form Earth to the Moon.

But anyways, no. You need metals in space to do this, and/or nanotechnology to do the heavy lifting.

>> No.5018219
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5018219

>>5018195
This.

Basically the hollowed-out asteroid becomes a space station tethered to a massive sea-base. Supplies are shipped to and from the sea-base, sent up and down the elevator.

>> No.5018236

>>5018219
And the materials needed to produce the elevator itself are extruded from the asteroid we jut parked in orbit. That way we aren't spending billions just to get our supplies into orbit.

hence, nanotech is required.

>> No.5018247

i read about these guys, its a neat concept that they're approaching it in escalating stages. a moon elevator is totally feasible right now

>> No.5018281

>>5018153
What the fucking point of an elevator on the Moon?! Theres nothing there. If he got 50k so easily, I'm thinking of coming up with a fake idea and posting it on kickstart and see how much money I get.

>> No.5018294

>>5018281

The moon has a lot of resources on it. helium 3 and resources that ate actually useful. It's a good base for further space exploitation.

>> No.5018299
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5018299

>tfw a space elevator has 50,000 pledged on kickstarter
>tfw a video game that involves the same thing has 700,000 pledged.
>tfw people dont care about science or going to space anymore.

>> No.5018805

>>5018299
keep in mind that stuff like this can easily slip under the radar, and its hard to "get the word out" as it were

these guys showed up on gizmag, i know that, but they should probably pursue an engadget plug, maybe talk with that vsauce guy on youtube

>> No.5018902

>using kickstarter to fund a multi-million dollar project.

This reeks of unintentional scam.

>> No.5018923

>>5018281
It's a test model, dumb ass. The gravity is much lower and if the thing collapses onto the moon it won't be a catastrophe.

>> No.5018936

>tfw people don't understand mechanics

1x10^8 m cable, with a couterweight of let's say 10^18 kilograms (asteroid), Earth spins at 7.27x10^-5 rads/s

With those numbers and assuming a massless cable (the most GENEROUS and incorrect assumption ever) the tensile force the cable is required to withstand is 5.8x10^17 N

That's around the order of magnitude of celestial body gravity. Nothing on earth can support that

>> No.5018957

>>5018902
the kickstarter is funding some opening research on a small scale, and being used as advertisement

>> No.5018959

>>5018936
they are well aware.
carbon nanotubes probably won't work within safety limits.
colossal carbon nanotubes, maybe
graphene, maybe

>> No.5018986

how do they intend to get a cable up to the counterweight, attach it to a rocket and shoot it up? let it hang down into the atmosphere and catch it?

>> No.5018999

>unintentional scam

no such thing
the money will simply disappear