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> 3 trillion dollars This is why we need a space elevator! Costs would be reduced from $40k / kg to ~$400/kg. I spoke to an engineer at a space-focused compan
by civilian 9y ago
> 3 trillion dollars
This is why we need a space elevator! Costs would be reduced from $40k / kg to ~$400/kg.
I spoke to an engineer at a space-focused company about space elevators. He, unfortunately, burst my bubble. While the elevator itself might be feasible, he thinks that countries would never let an asteroid large enough to act as a counterweight, with thrusters large enough to move it attached, enter Earth's orbit. The potential of it being used as a catastrophic weapon is just too dangerous.
- XR0CSWV3h3kZWg 9y agoWe'd also need to advance material science and logistics quite a bit. It sounds like carbon fiber has the tensile strength, but we can't make it in near the length nor quality we'd need for a space elevator. The elevator would need to avoid or divert space junk. And we haven't actually practiced asteroid capture, much less orbit keeping on a scale that large.