Why not build a space elevator at the moon?

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Message 1786714 - Posted: 11 May 2016, 14:38:38 UTC

Instead of trying to deal with all the problems associated with constructing a space elevator here on earth. The moon would be an excellent testing ground for building future space elevators on earth or at Mars. It would also make getting to and from the surface of the moon very cheap in the long run.
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Message 1786920 - Posted: 12 May 2016, 5:59:29 UTC

Wouldn't it cost more to be able to have oxygen on the moon as to be able to build the elevator?
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Message 1786929 - Posted: 12 May 2016, 7:03:59 UTC - in response to Message 1786923.  
Last modified: 12 May 2016, 7:05:43 UTC

Wouldn't it cost more to be able to have oxygen on the moon as to be able to build the elevator?

I'm taking a liberty here but...
Do you mean that there is no reason to have a space elevator since the Moon has no Atmosphere?


I'm just saying the construction site on the moon would cost more than on earth because of the lack of oxygen on the moon to be able to build the elevator.
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Message 1786933 - Posted: 12 May 2016, 7:31:44 UTC - in response to Message 1786932.  

Wouldn't it cost more to be able to have oxygen on the moon as to be able to build the elevator?

I'm taking a liberty here but...
Do you mean that there is no reason to have a space elevator since the Moon has no Atmosphere?


I'm just saying the construction on the moon would cost more than on earth because of the lack of oxygen on the moon.

OK.
As i understand it, we don't at present have a way of producing materials strong enough to build an elevator on Earth.
Carbon nanotubes may be strong enough, but we don't know how to bond them, or make them into long enough strands.
Because of the Moon's low gravity it might be possible to design a Moon elevator that doesn't fail using materials we have.


Good point.
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Message 1786946 - Posted: 12 May 2016, 8:26:20 UTC

Wouldn't there be problems due to the Moon being Tidal Locked, not being a true sphere and that the Moon's equatorial plane does not match that of the Earth.

So that the "Object" the elevator would go to would never be in a stable position.
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Message 1786960 - Posted: 12 May 2016, 9:12:07 UTC - in response to Message 1786955.  

Wouldn't there be problems due to the Moon being Tidal Locked, not being a true sphere and that the Moon's equatorial plane does not match that of the Earth.

So that the "Object" the elevator would go to would never be in a stable position.

A Space-Elevator, in theory, relies on a stabilizing counter-mass, beyond the
Stationary-Orbit, to maintain tension in the cable.
The simplest solution is a very strong cable that tethers a very large mass
close to Earth, anchored on the Moon.
I suspect that this is over-engineering a problem.
Anything you send up the Elevator still needs to go somewhere, which would need
propulsion to achieve vectors that could have been imparted by a linear-accelerator on the Moon.


Ionized propulsion would be a good solution to that.
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Message 1786978 - Posted: 12 May 2016, 11:42:28 UTC - in response to Message 1786963.  

Ionized propulsion would be a good solution to that.

i prefer anti-matter catalyzed conversion of garbage to Energy as a method of propulsion.
1 part Anti-Matter to 50-100 parts garbage, through a magnetic annihilation chamber/nozzle has always worked for me.


Sounds like a good idea for recycling as well IMO.
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Message 1787002 - Posted: 12 May 2016, 13:30:20 UTC - in response to Message 1786988.  


Do you think that anyone has tried to patent this idea yet?


Not to my recollection..
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Message 1787010 - Posted: 12 May 2016, 13:43:04 UTC - in response to Message 1787009.  
Last modified: 12 May 2016, 13:43:25 UTC


Do you think that anyone has tried to patent this idea yet?


Not to my recollection..

Do you work at the Patent Office?

No, at an energy provider :D
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Message 1787034 - Posted: 12 May 2016, 14:56:19 UTC - in response to Message 1787015.  
Last modified: 12 May 2016, 14:56:29 UTC

Do you think that anyone has tried to patent this idea yet?
Not to my recollection..
Do you work at the Patent Office?
No, at an energy provider :D
Coke, Pepsi, or Cadbury?


Electricity and gas.
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Message 1787110 - Posted: 12 May 2016, 21:39:55 UTC

Answering the question about oxygen. It is pretty well established that on or near the surface of the moon water exists in the form of ice. Oxygen can easily be extracted from water. The moon does spin, the rotational period just coincides with its orbital period around the earth. There are suggestion that an elevator could be located near one of the poles.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_space_elevator
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Message 1787154 - Posted: 13 May 2016, 0:51:59 UTC - in response to Message 1787110.  

I can easily see how one would work on the equator but I don't see how it would work at the poles.
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Message 1787475 - Posted: 14 May 2016, 10:27:08 UTC - in response to Message 1787110.  
Last modified: 14 May 2016, 10:27:27 UTC

Answering the question about oxygen. It is pretty well established that on or near the surface of the moon water exists in the form of ice. Oxygen can easily be extracted from water. The moon does spin, the rotational period just coincides with its orbital period around the earth. There are suggestion that an elevator could be located near one of the poles.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_space_elevator


Which costs money. We wouldn't have to perform that procedure on earth.
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Message 1787482 - Posted: 14 May 2016, 12:31:36 UTC - in response to Message 1787475.  

Answering the question about oxygen. It is pretty well established that on or near the surface of the moon water exists in the form of ice. Oxygen can easily be extracted from water. The moon does spin, the rotational period just coincides with its orbital period around the earth. There are suggestion that an elevator could be located near one of the poles.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_space_elevator


Which costs money. We wouldn't have to perform that procedure on earth.

But, on the moon, assuming a growing colony is the plan, there is no wind and weather to contend with as well as aircraft and the ever growing quantity of orbital debris. Also the strength necessary for the cable is much less than what is needed to build one here. Then there is always the possibility of a catastrophic failure which here on earth could kill thousands of people whereas on the moon a failure would be a financial disaster but the danger to people would be minimal.

This all assumes that a permanent base on the moon is being established without which it is a moot point.
Bob DeWoody

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Message 1788103 - Posted: 17 May 2016, 6:38:55 UTC - in response to Message 1787482.  

Answering the question about oxygen. It is pretty well established that on or near the surface of the moon water exists in the form of ice. Oxygen can easily be extracted from water. The moon does spin, the rotational period just coincides with its orbital period around the earth. There are suggestion that an elevator could be located near one of the poles.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_space_elevator


Which costs money. We wouldn't have to perform that procedure on earth.

But, on the moon, assuming a growing colony is the plan, there is no wind and weather to contend with as well as aircraft and the ever growing quantity of orbital debris. Also the strength necessary for the cable is much less than what is needed to build one here. Then there is always the possibility of a catastrophic failure which here on earth could kill thousands of people whereas on the moon a failure would be a financial disaster but the danger to people would be minimal.

This all assumes that a permanent base on the moon is being established without which it is a moot point.


We have to consider various factors but IMO earth would be a better and safer place to work out the concept.
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Message 1788290 - Posted: 18 May 2016, 4:51:13 UTC

The whole idea of building a space elevator is bring the cost of getting to space as cheap as possible (once the original cost is recovered). Building one on the moon where gravity is much less would have less benefit and it would not help reduce the cost on this planet at all. This isn't to say that putting one on the moon makes no sense it just seems earth would be the priority.

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Message 1788359 - Posted: 18 May 2016, 8:54:26 UTC - in response to Message 1788290.  

The whole idea of building a space elevator is bring the cost of getting to space as cheap as possible (once the original cost is recovered). Building one on the moon where gravity is much less would have less benefit and it would not help reduce the cost on this planet at all. This isn't to say that putting one on the moon makes no sense it just seems earth would be the priority.

Bob


Agreed. We also have to bear in mind that the moon is subject to cosmic radiation as it lacks an atmosphere.
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Message 1801333 - Posted: 7 Jul 2016, 20:06:06 UTC - in response to Message 1788290.  

The whole idea of building a space elevator is bring the cost of getting to space as cheap as possible (once the original cost is recovered). Building one on the moon where gravity is much less would have less benefit and it would not help reduce the cost on this planet at all. This isn't to say that putting one on the moon makes no sense it just seems earth would be the priority.

Bob


Uhhh ... get to the Moon, but then get from the Moon to some other place more easily in 2 hops than 1 direct hop from Earth to non-lunar destination?
Capitalize on this good fortune, one word can bring you round ... changes.
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Message 1801348 - Posted: 7 Jul 2016, 21:50:58 UTC - in response to Message 1786714.  

Instead of trying to deal with all the problems associated with constructing a space elevator here on earth. The moon would be an excellent testing ground for building future space elevators on earth or at Mars. It would also make getting to and from the surface of the moon very cheap in the long run.

The answer lies here.  Advance to 1:03:26.
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Message boards : Science (non-SETI) : Why not build a space elevator at the moon?


 
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