Space elevator. Dream, hoax or reality?

The funding of this should be interesting to watch. It could be a new dotcom industry in its infancy. If it does work what does it do?

The space elevator makes transit through the atmosphere energetically cheaper right?

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The space elevator makes transit through the atmosphere energetically cheaper right?
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If we do build beanstalks they will make transit everywhere in the Solar system energetically cheaper. In fact, except for losses due to friction, areo-drag, etc. it will be energetically free (for equal-mass payloads in both directions, and assuming a similar device at the destination).


This link takes you to a NASA page with a summary and a link to another more detailed document (PDF format, 80 pages).

www.niac.usra.edu/studies/files/final_report/pdf/472Edwards.pdf

Regards,
LB

How do you determine the "beanstalk" will reduce the cost of getting into space?

it will still cost the same for the short term and long term because the maintence on a "beanstalk" space elevator would have to be a massive crew working around the clock if the project done

The intuitive mind

From an engineering standpoint there is no theoretical reason why a space elevator can't be built. The question is whether one can be built for a reasonable cost. There are some severe design challenges ahead for the builders, such as:

1. The cable will eventually wear out. How does one keep repairing it while also using it?

2. What about catastrophic failure? Where can it be built so that the trail of falling material will not kill people?

3. In case of 2, how long would it take to build another one?

I don't know, why not just revive project Orion? Or launch payloads with ground based lasers? I know the elevator is ultimately more energy efficient but I am not convinced it is more cost efficient.