5 ms·
For practical purposes the atmosphere ends at 500km altitude. The cable is going to have to be 36,000 kilometers long. Atmospheric effects are pretty much round
by jaggederest 8y ago
For practical purposes the atmosphere ends at 500km altitude. The cable is going to have to be 36,000 kilometers long. Atmospheric effects are pretty much rounding error at that point - imagine trying to swing a 10 foot long pole by blowing on the first inch.
- zepearl 8y agoOk, you're right from that perspective :)
- joering2 8y agoJust fantisizing here, but helium baloons go over 50km up; can this elevator cable be vertically supported by solar-powered helium-filled heat packs alongs its way, with horizontal stabilization of large fans blowing in oposite direction (lower atmosphere) and tiny rocket boosts in above-atmosphere region similar to how sattelites correct their orbits? Just fantasizing here..