The technology for the greatest engineering feat ever undertaken may well be available in the next couple of years, however, the concept is Biblical. Explanation please?

Derry Ayre

I read something about a ladder or lift up into space. The piece I read was satirical, but is there some truth in it? Like Jacob's ladder? Sep 19 03, 5:40 PM

sequoianoir

Derry Ayre has a Yo! Jacob's Ladder may become the truth in the next few years. The idea is to have a ribbon of a very special carbon fibre like material stretching into space about 100,000 kilometres. The ribbon will be built layer upon layer after an initial "thread" has been "installed" by standard technology. With one end tethered to the Earth, machines will climb the ribbon, adding to it as it goes making it stronger and capable of lifting more mass. The machines may ultimately become the "counter-weights" attached to the far end of the ribbon - a bit like swinging a rope around your head with a lump of lead on the end. The 100,000km ribbon is such that when finished, it will be able to "launch" satellites of about 20 tons into low Earth orbit, geostationary at 23,500 miles of even get them on their way to the moon and other planets. Launch costs may fall as low as $10 per pound "almost irrespective of destination" where currently it costs about $10,000 per pound of satellite using a rocket for low Earth orbit, and millions of $ to get to Mars etc.. The "elevators" will climb the ribbon at up to 200km per hour, taking 3 weeks or more to get to the very end. Nasa and the company responsible has completed some pilot work and further investment has just been agreed. A google for "nasa space ribbon 100000" will find several references. Sep 19 03, 6:22 PM