technology Support the construction of a space elevator!

[Twilight Sparkle ✨ 8,527]

Ever heard of this little thing called the space elevator? It is what the name implies - a massive elevator straight into space, designed to be an alternative to using rockets to get up there.

The space elevator isn't exactly a new idea, the concept going about a century back. But a man by the name of Michael Laine has made it his personal mission to actually get the thing built, founding the LiftPort Group to make it happen.

I met Michael Laine personally during an event at Microsoft's headquarters last year. We exchanged email addresses; and now, this summer, he got in touch with me for an opportunity to join LiftPort and work with his team on the space elevator. It has been pretty amazing so far, and we're just warming up.

To cut to the chase, we're currently running a Kickstarter campaign for a proof-of-concept project intended to get the media talking about LiftPort again and build a community. You can find tons of information on what exactly we're trying to do on the campaign's page. It would be amazing if the MLP Forums community could pitch in some support. In a nutshell, the idea is to set up a mile-high tether and build a robot to climb it - think of it as a miniature version of the real thing.

I realize that the campaign has a little over a day left to run; but if that's too tight for you to chip in, we will run more campaigns in the future to support other upcoming LiftPort projects.

---

My personal involvement with LiftPort so far has been to build and host their brand-new website, although I will be involved with the nuts and bolts of the actual projects as well. Although LiftPort has been around for a while, they've never had the luxury of a tightly integrated site spanning all aspects of their project. Building the site was a fun challenge, involving ~38 hours of calls in the span of a week, that drew primarily on my experience with MLP Forums. Michael himself was quite amazed at how much of what I've learned from my little pony forum can be applied to a space elevator community and resource site.

LiftPort.com is still under construction, but it's already great place to read up on the space elevator. There's a friendly community coming together in the LiftPort Forums as well, which I'd encourage you to join if you have a personal interest in any of what we do.

[Crispy 5,563]

This is pretty rad. I've known for a while about the mile-high contests, but the fact that we can actively help out is awesome, even if it is just in a cash capacity.

[Azura 1,107]

So basically it's an elevator all the way up into space? That's pretty amazing, I'll think about kickstarting it with the cash I got on my birthday!

Edited September 12, 2012 by Cloud Chaser

[Planty 1,053]

This is pretty cool,

 

re edit: This is actually a really good idea

 

I wish i had more money around now would be great to see a proof of concept actually work with this

Edited September 12, 2012 by Happy Plant

[Killian Jones 2,655]

I pledged some money. Well around $50 worth. Being a true Science fiction geek, and having heard trough that means of the concept of space elevators, having this thing happen is truly rad. Especially if it would open up the entirety of space to us.

[JeanHover 326]

And this, My Little Ponies, is why we love Feld0 so much as the creator of our site.

 

A space elevator would be pretty rad, I just hope no idiot on the internet makes up a rumor about the world ending because of it.

[Devious Detonation 442]

By the way... If humans try to build a space elevator, where will be it's last "floor"? Because there is really nothing that is static in space. Everything is always moving, and probably gravitational forces of the moon will make it be ripped of the earth, or probably pushed by earth's gravitational area. Also, building something this scale would devastate earth's resources, putting the Humankind and all the other species that live on earth endangered.

I don't think it will be a good idea because Earth never stops spinning, and balancing an elevator would not be an easy task.

But that's just my opinion, so nobody cares. :/

 

Edit: I used the same word so many times... -.-

Edit: I am not saying that I disagree with the idea, I am just saying that is not healthy to do such thing.

Edited September 12, 2012 by Devious Detonation

[Smokin'HotRarity 182]

That is absolutely the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. It is absolutely possible, however the stability is in question. Also its very vulnerable to attack. The world's tallest building is about a half a mile long. This took extraordinary thought and dedication to the project. Now you're asking for a building that stretches 70 miles...do you know how exponentially harder that would be? The taller you go, the harder and harder it becomes to make a building any higher. I don't think our current level of science is capable of this, and guess how much the world's tallest building cost? 1.5 billion. Since your project will require 140*n more resources, at its very minimum you can expect the project to cost over 400 billion, at its very least, if n is two. n will probably be much more, so my guess is around 40 trillion dollars.

Edited September 12, 2012 by glitterlicious

[pinkiefan1287 610]

A elevator that goes into space. Sounds like something from Gundam double O. Still it would be cool to something like that. I might give some money.

Edited September 12, 2012 by pinkiefan1287

[Smokin'HotRarity 182]

A elevator that goes into space. Sounds like something from Gundam double O. Still it would be cool to something like that. I might give some money.

 

Even for sci-fi this is ridiculous. Nasa can barely fund itself as is. Imagine how big the base at the bottom would have to be to support so much weight. It'd have to span miles. The elevator shaft would be 70 miles high, so the elevator would have to be like a casino, complete with vending machines and restaurant to justify the cost and to entertain the people on the way up.

And what they would do in the event of a storm or wind is beyond me. For every construction worker, they'd have to have a space suit just to build the darn thing. I don't think there is an alloy strong enough to support the sheer weight of it. It would collapse on itself at a certain point.

 

To put this in perspective, there is only $44 trillion estimated in the entire world. And I estimated this project to cost $40 trillion.

Edited September 12, 2012 by glitterlicious

[Devious Detonation 442]

Even for sci-fi this is ridiculous. Nasa can barely fund itself as is. Imagine how big the base at the bottom would have to be to support so much weight. It'd have to span miles. The elevator shaft would be 70 miles high, so the elevator would have to be like a casino, complete with vending machines and restaurant to justify the cost and to entertain the people on the way up.

And what they would do in the event of a storm or wind is beyond me.

 

To put this in perspective, there is only $44 trillion estimated in the entire world. And I estimated this project to cost $40 trillion.

 

I understand your point of view, but I think you posted that in the wrong topic, because, if you didn't noticed, the title says: "Support the construction of a space elevator!"

And I think you're not really supporting...

[Smokin'HotRarity 182]

I understand your point of view, but I think you posted that in the wrong topic, because, if you didn't noticed, the title says: "Support the construction of a space elevator!"

And I think you're not really supporting...

 

Lol I guess that's true...

I'm just trying to be realistic that's all. I like when people follow their dreams but this is simply ridiculous. I'd probably put more faith in science developing teleportation systems than this.

Although, I think some of my points have been helpful to their goal. It points out flaws or problems that will come up during build time. And if they can refute my points, it makes them look super credible.

 

 

 

This is pretty rad. I've known for a while about the mile-high contests, but the fact that we can actively help out is awesome, even if it is just in a cash capacity.

 

This is not a mile high contest. It is a seventy mile high contest. Edited September 12, 2012 by glitterlicious

[Devious Detonation 442]

Lol I guess that's true...

I'm just trying to be realistic that's all. I like when people follow their dreams but this is simply ridiculous. I'd probably put more faith in science developing teleportation systems than this.

Although, I think some of my points have been helpful to their goal. It points out flaws or problems that will come up during build time. And if they can refute my points, it makes them look super credible.

 

Did you read my post? I said basicly the same you did in your first one.

So I guess you were just adding a few things to their knowledge.

 

(Are my opinions really nothing to care about? )

[thegoodhen 698]

You should totally provide an interview...

 

>So, Feld0, what is it that you usually do?

Well, I run the biggest forum dedicated to brony community-you know, one of the friendliest communities that have ever existed...

>Oh, I see... *sceptical look* do you have any other hobbies?

Well, I'm building this 70 miles high space elevator...

>O_O

 

Edit: as for the project itself, I take it the motor will be located in the "cabin" itself? Hm... This design isn't making any use of counterweight which is generally the coolest thing about elevators...

 

BUT!

Tunnel effect. I'm way too tired to think about this more deeply, but the difference between air pressures at different heights might be something to look into. But what do I know...

 

Edit 2:

 

To put this in perspective, there is only $44 trillion estimated in the entire world. And I estimated this project to cost $40 trillion.

 

 

Featured Donation Goals

 

 

Space elevator fund

0% complete - $267.22 of this $40 000 000 000 000.00 goal reached.

Edited September 12, 2012 by thegoodhen

[Smokin'HotRarity 182]

Did you read my post? I said basicly the same you did in your first one.

So I guess you were just adding a few things to their knowledge.

 

(Are my opinions really nothing to care about? )

 

Yes I read your post about the centrifugal force. I think would actually work out to his advantage though. Like a bicycle, it may do more good than harm, because it may take less pressure away from the base. But even with the centrifugal force you're gonna need a radically new approach to building making because the way we make buildings I don't think we could ever support that much weight. Edited September 12, 2012 by glitterlicious

[null1 606]

Be easier to make one on the Moon because of current material strengths. But when we can create an Earth Elevator, that will be a defining moment. Like the Trans-Continental Railroad, Panama Canal, it would be such an advance.

 

I support this road to LEO awesomeness.

[Devious Detonation 442]

Be easier to make one on the Moon because of current material strengths. But when we can create an Earth Elevator, that will be a defining moment. Like the Trans-Continental Railroad, Panama Canal, it would be such an advance.

 

I support this road to LEO awesomeness.

 

Actually we needed to make something that would spin at the same time in the Earth and the Moon, because if they do it like you say, the elevator would be destroyed, because the Earth pushes to one side while the Moon to another. Remember that both spin around themselves and the Moon around the Earth. Edited September 12, 2012 by Devious Detonation

[Titan Rising 2,156]

What's the purpose of this exactly? What benefit would building an elevator into space give us? Obviously the government would have to fund such a project and it seems to me like that kind of money would be better served elsewhere. I can hardly stand the government supporting nasa and the hadron collider and other such projects already

[null1 606]

Actually we needed to make something that would spin at the same time in the Earth and the Moon, because if they do it like you say, the elevator would be destroyed, because the Earth pushes to one side while the Moon to another. Remember that both spin around themselves and the Moon around the Earth.

 

Specify. Are you talking about a stationary space elevator?

 

The way you describe this sounds like a rather complicated explanation. From what I know, for the moon, it has to be longer at one of the Lagrange points along the equator.

 

What's the purpose of this exactly? What benefit would building an elevator into space give us? Obviously the government would have to fund such a project and it seems to me like that kind of money would be better served elsewhere. I can hardly stand the government supporting nasa and the hadron collider and other such projects already

 

Leave it to private space firms, they would do a better job anyway. Gov't doesn't need to spend a dime. Gov't frankly shouldn't even get involved. Edited September 12, 2012 by DeltaTangent

[Devious Detonation 442]

Specify. Are you talking about a stationary space elevator?

 

The way you describe this sounds like a rather complicated explanation. From what I know, for the moon, it has to be longer at one of the Lagrange points along the equator.

 

Don't forget that the Moon spins around the Earth, and putting an elevator in the same place will not work, because the Moon is not sinchronized with the Earth in terms of spinning around themselves.

[Gone for good 1,593]

So wait, I just spent my remaining two dollars on vending machine snacks that I didn't even get because they got stuck in the machine rather than spending it on this awesome thing?

 

I feel dumb now.

[Smokin'HotRarity 182]

What's the purpose of this exactly? What benefit would building an elevator into space give us? Obviously the government would have to fund such a project and it seems to me like that kind of money would be better served elsewhere. I can hardly stand the government supporting nasa and the hadron collider and other such projects already

 

Theoretically, we could send any unwanted trash into space. We wouldn't require any electricity or power to do so, because the vacuum at the end of the tube would take care of moving the trash for us. The downside to this is it would make space travel unsafe.

Perhaps we could only do it during the day and have a vector nozzle at the end of the tube always pointing at the sun, so it could reach the sun. We would have to calculate trajectory and planet grav first though. And it would be a great place for an astral observatory.

 

A rotating earth would reduce pressure on the bottom, but make the building bend.

 

I'm not saying this is impossible, I'm saying you're gonna need a radically different approach. You might be able to get more funding if you have a design plan to show people.

Edited September 12, 2012 by glitterlicious

[null1 606]

Don't forget that the Moon spins around the Earth, and putting an elevator in the same place will not work, because the Moon is not sinchronized with the Earth in terms of spinning around themselves.

 

I don't mean to be confused, but are you talking about an elevator linked between the Earth and the Moon? If that's the case, that is not what I am discussing. The picture link below is what I mean.

 

http://upload.wikime...ce_elevator.svg

 

@, I've read that one way to keep the elevator from bending would be a counterweight at the end of the cable, far off from the main station.

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Space_elevator_structural_diagram--corrected_for_scale%2BCM%2Betc.TIF

Edited September 12, 2012 by DeltaTangent

[Titan Rising 2,156]

Theoretically, we could send any unwanted trash into space.

 

Yeah.. Not supporting spending trillions of dollars to send trash into space.. I think it would be better spent finding better ways of recycling

[PonyEcho 1,610]

i'm all for space exploration and the hadron collider but a space elevator seems unpractical and pointless because well it can't be done unless it so well built and structured to handle how tall it is along with Earths rotation along with other variables, also the though of dabree need to be though about think about all the stuff flying around in space and think of the speed they might be going, a screw could be flying though space and if it were to hit something the impact would be huge and destructive. also i hate elevator and the ought of being trapped in a elevator, in space is terrifying.

 

Edit

also if it was to just be used as a way to send trash into space we'll likely be dooming future space exploration because trash on earth is trash trash in space its a force of destruction

Edited September 12, 2012 by PonyEcho