It's really more like a space wash-clothes-line. Also called a space tether. Not free standing under compression like a house or tree, but kept taught by the centrifugal force of the planet's rotation.
Well, think about it, an elevator runs on cables, doesn't it? Plus the crawlers designed to move up and down the ribbon or cable (still working out those details...) are a lot like an elevator car. Just air tight and electromagnetically driven.
But you're right there are actually a number of names that are better and more descriptive. I blame the media, they're always looking for a catchy phrase.
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It's kind of hard for me to imagine a space elevator being stable enough, but sometimes my imagination is too limited.
It's really more like a space wash-clothes-line. Also called a space tether. Not free standing under compression like a house or tree, but kept taught by the centrifugal force of the planet's rotation.
Ah, that makes it easier to imagine. Thanks. They should call it something other than "elevator" maybe?
Well, think about it, an elevator runs on cables, doesn't it? Plus the crawlers designed to move up and down the ribbon or cable (still working out those details...) are a lot like an elevator car. Just air tight and electromagnetically driven.
But you're right there are actually a number of names that are better and more descriptive. I blame the media, they're always looking for a catchy phrase.
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