Japanese Space-Elevator Experiment Launching to Space Station Next Week (Really!)

Space.com ^ | Sept 7, 2018 | Scott Snowden, Space.com Contributor

[ETL]

Space elevators have long been a staple of science fiction. Now, scientists in Japan will test space-elevator tech from the
International Space Station. Credit: NASA

[cuban leaf]

I read an article about those cubesats a year or so ago. Pretty amazing concept. They could end up applying something akin to Moore’s law to satellites.

[Buckeye McFrog]

I thought the Space Elevator was a plot device on the old Lost In Space series?

[ClearCase_guy]

They need advances in cable material for a real space elevator to work, but it will be pretty cool when they have one working.

[Vaquero]

Another brilliant idea from Arthur C Clarke.

The communication satellite worked so well.

[Moonman62]

[DannyTN]

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic” - Authur C Clark

[antidemoncrat]

I’m confused. Doesn’t that mean if the earth side part of the elevator is fixed the satellite would have to be in a geosynchronous orbit? If the earth side part is not fixed wouldn’t it drag on every high feature in its path?

[ETL]

[Windflier]

I predict that thing will become the biggest lightning rod of all time.

[TruthInThoughtWordAndDeed]

Guaranteed failure.

[I want the USA back]

A cable from the surface of the Earth to a satellite. I’m sure the engineers have calculated the stress that would be on the cable due to gravity, and the weight of the cable itself, plus the effect of winds and the movement of the cable through the atmosphere because it is being dragged by the rotating Earth to which it is attached. Also, they will have carefully considered all possible scenarios in which something can go wrong and have assured themselves that the humans in the space station are not in danger when the cable snaps or a plane flies into it or a hurricane or a tornado whips it around or lightning hits it.

Engineers think of everything, and they never create structures that collapse.

[laplata]

“I predict that thing will become the biggest lightning rod of all time”.

Space lightning? I’d never heard of it.

[Puppage]

Stratosphere...linens, cookware, glasses & underwear.

[ETL]

[JoSixChip]

They might want to review the TSS program (Tethered Satellite System). Didn’t work out so well for them.

[BlueLancer]

I remember that one of the staples of old sci-fi stories dealing with space elevators was always the fear that they would become separated from the satellite and would whiplash back to Earth in a 100+ mile band of destruction.

I've heard of "Rods from God", but this would be a "Flail from Hell" ...

[tet68]

Cable strength is only one of the problems.
Questions of mass transfer, the balancing of the
mass of the elevator as it starts its climb to when
it reaches the mid-point of the cable and begins to
shift it’s mass to the station are probably a subject
discussed by the engineers.

[CrazyIvan]

One Doctor in a Bonanza and you’re screwed.

[Afterguard]

Yes to both. The space terminus would be in geosynchronous orbit.