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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/s...icle4799369.ece

And they are damn serious about it.

This... then we need the SS program... and that's when I will proceed to reinstall CivIV.

Doesnt this instantly remind you of the South Park episode "Ladder to heaven"?

Pav3d, on 23 Sep 2008, 17:16, said:

yes it does, especially the part when the japanese are competing with the US


@topic: it seems to be a ludicrous idea to me, im sorry but the concept of a elvator to space is a incredibly stupid. I respect them for their ideas and their imagination, but i dont thik this will be done in my liftime, or my kid's.
Edited by Tactical_person, 23 September 2008 - 16:22.

Considering Japan usually gets things done, I'm sure they would actually do this.

Nope, not possible. The rope would never hold anything (or even itself) over such a distance and break, no matter which material they are going to use
Edited by Teron, 23 September 2008 - 16:38.

Teron, on 23 Sep 2008, 18:37, said:

It's too farfetched for you to even consider it, I understand. However.. carbon fibers can possibly be made to be strong enough to carry the distance. IIRC certain carbon nanotube fibers already have a breaklength of about 10000 kilometers. For comparison, steel has a breaklength of 35 kilometers. Breaklength defines the length a cable hung up in the air can withstand without breaking because of it's own weight.

If anything, if a lot of Japanese universities and companies have turned their attention to it, who are you to say it is impossible. It's not like they are stupid in Japan, or is it?

Now just think of the possibilities. An elevator like this is like a gateway to space. An elevator into space is absolutely not stupid. In comparison to this, hydrogen fueled rockets are what is stupid.
Edited by Aftershock, 23 September 2008 - 17:00.

Geez, no reason to jump on me. At least I was sceptic and didn't swallow everthing the internet tells me...
Edited by Teron, 23 September 2008 - 17:10.

There have been experiments with space elevators in the past but the cable has always broken, I believe.

That "artist's impression" in the picture looks ridiculous, and won't be happening for a looong time. The first elevators will be one or two cables carrying a very small payload.

I think this is a crazy idea but i would love to see if work.

I wish them the best of luck, if anywhere has the technology to do it, its japan.

A space elevator is absolutely necessary for further human expansion into space. As Aftershock says, in comparison, a rocket seems like the daftest idea since they started talking about that business with the Earth actually revolving around the Sun. This would be one of the greatest steps for the Human race ever, and I wish Japan the very, very best of luck for all our sakes. Keep in mind if they manage to corner it the benefits it would bring them as its owners would be virtually untold.
I'm also rather surprised we haven't seen any comparisons to the Empire yet...
Edited by CommanderJB, 23 September 2008 - 22:29.

This would be a dream come true if they get 9 billion dollars.

"Ground Control To Major Tom..."

I doubt it will happen.

Papaya Master Rai, on 24 Sep 2008, 17:38, said:

Japan. Getting $9bn is as easy as plucking your pubic hair.

Then go try it.
And by the way is anybody aware of how will they power this thing.

Nuclear, probably. Or if you mean the capsule itself, an idea often bandied around is a laser focused on its lower surface, upon which sit high-efficiency, high-light-level-optimised solar cells.

The article also mentioned using another cable to carry a current. Carbon nanotubes can be very conductive.

Am I the only one who thought, someone is happily flying a plane... then suddenly.. "OH SHI-"

Pav3d, on 23 Sep 2008, 11:16, said:

No, reminds me of the song "Stairway to Heaven" though.. still i hope this happens, cuz I wanna go to the moon.

Although we don't yet have the technology to do it, with the greatest scientific minds in japan and the backing of the government it shouldn't be to long before we do. However even with the technology assembeling it will be a problem. It does seem the next logical step in space exploration though, just not as cool as warp gates :(
Edited by Insomniac!, 24 September 2008 - 22:35.

You've got to hand it to the Japanese for seriously considering this.

Bob, on 24 Sep 2008, 16:32, said:

RAMMING SPEED!

I have very serious doubts about this from a technical standpoint. That's not to mention other problems... but it would be pretty cool.

"I'm sitting in my tin can, far above the world..."
Edited by Dr. Strangelove, 25 September 2008 - 04:18.

Do, if you think about this:

(--) = earth

(--)-------

Earth + elevator.

With an earth radius of 12500 kilometers this thing is going to be three times as tall. Imagine that upper sketch spinning around...

It's higher than everything evar built

That's why you lower a cable down from a satellite rather than building up from the bottom.

From the ISS? lol. I don't think any, ANY pilots will be blind enough not to see a huge...stick(???) standing in front of them and fly their planes into it.

Main problem is probably terrorism, the resources...the plans...

You don't expect them to mount Sidewinders and Rapiers on the elevator do you?



(lolgundam00)