3 ms·

Zeppelins could solve transport scenarios just like this one, where you must transport a huge cargo from/to specific locations far from the shore: http://rt.co

by aylons 12y ago

Zeppelins could solve transport scenarios just like this one, where you must transport a huge cargo from/to specific locations far from the shore: http://rt.com/news/aeroscraft-revolutionary-airship-cargo-187/ http://rt.com/news/aeroscraft-revolutionary-airship-cargo-18... However, after hearing about this comeback for at least a decade, I'm a bit skeptic it will ever come true.

fh973 12y ago
One of these efforts graced the Berlin, Germany area with a huge hangar: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CargoLifter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CargoLifter Luckily, they found a new use for the structure: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Islands_Resort http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Islands_Resort
- theklub 12y ago
  This seems like a project for Elon Musk
  - Chronic29 12y ago
    No it doesn't. Check your Elon Musk fanboy-ism before posting here on HN.
- darkmighty 12y ago
  Awesome use for that structure.
seszett 12y ago
The Zeppelin this article talks about could still only potentially lift 66 tonnes, less than a third of the weight of this spectrometer. But yeah, a zeppelin with sufficient lift would be a very good solution to this problem. edit yes, "over the long term" they say they could build an airship with a 500 tons lift capability, but that seems far away.
diafygi 12y ago
Would high helium prices prevent this nowadays?
- femto 12y ago
  My first thought was why not just evacuate it, given that it's a vacuum vessel? It doesn't work though. Making some gross assumptions about its dimensions, its buoyancy when empty would be the weight of a few tons. Not enough to lift itself!
- ars 12y ago
  You'd have to use hydrogen. It's more dangerous of course, but it should be doable.
killerpopiller 12y ago
my first thought as well. The CL160, a Starrluftschiff (rigid airship?) alias Zeppelin, was planned to lift 160t. I wished there would one fly over me from time to time.
darkmighty 12y ago
Look at the size of the hangar: (people for scale) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CargoLifter#mediaviewer/File:Brand_Cargolifter_Halle_innen.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CargoLifter#mediaviewer/File:Br... All this for an unsucessful zeppelin that could carry less than the required 200 tons. You'll be convinced very quickly that it doesn't trump simply carrying by land.

by aylons 12y ago

fh973 12y ago

One of these efforts graced the Berlin, Germany area with a huge hangar: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CargoLifter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CargoLifter Luckily, they found a new use for the structure: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Islands_Resort http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Islands_Resort

theklub 12y ago
This seems like a project for Elon Musk
- Chronic29 12y ago
  No it doesn't. Check your Elon Musk fanboy-ism before posting here on HN.
darkmighty 12y ago
Awesome use for that structure.

seszett 12y ago

The Zeppelin this article talks about could still only potentially lift 66 tonnes, less than a third of the weight of this spectrometer. But yeah, a zeppelin with sufficient lift would be a very good solution to this problem. edit yes, "over the long term" they say they could build an airship with a 500 tons lift capability, but that seems far away.

diafygi 12y ago

Would high helium prices prevent this nowadays?

femto 12y ago
My first thought was why not just evacuate it, given that it's a vacuum vessel? It doesn't work though. Making some gross assumptions about its dimensions, its buoyancy when empty would be the weight of a few tons. Not enough to lift itself!
ars 12y ago
You'd have to use hydrogen. It's more dangerous of course, but it should be doable.

killerpopiller 12y ago

my first thought as well. The CL160, a Starrluftschiff (rigid airship?) alias Zeppelin, was planned to lift 160t. I wished there would one fly over me from time to time.

darkmighty 12y ago

Look at the size of the hangar: (people for scale) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CargoLifter#mediaviewer/File:Brand_Cargolifter_Halle_innen.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CargoLifter#mediaviewer/File:Br... All this for an unsucessful zeppelin that could carry less than the required 200 tons. You'll be convinced very quickly that it doesn't trump simply carrying by land.