[RightWhale]

When the space elevator is built, it will sweep the Van Allen Belts anyway, so while this lightning rod tether might be a classical Bad Idea, still sweeping will happen automatically no matter what. It might be well to do this sweeping soon and see what happens before the space elevator construction begins. There might be some surprises.

[GunRunner]

For some reason to me, 62 miles doesn't seem long enough to make a difference. But if it is, would these tethers have to be cleaned, or just degaused every now and then?

[Cicero]

Wouldn't removal of the Van Allen belts have a disastrous effect on the ionization layer that keeps out ultraviolet radiation? It could also lead to major changes in weather patterns. That's just off the top of my head, but I shouldn't think we should risk it in a hurry.

[Stirner]

While we're at it, I've thought for a long time that we should stand the earth up straight on its axis and eliminate those pesky seasonal fluctuations in day length, temperature, etc.

[Thoro]

Wasn't there a space/science article posted on FR, or maybe in the discussion thereof, that said that the space elevator's construction was impractical because of the vast amount of materials required?

I can't find it at the moment, but I remember the thread changing my perspective of the space elevator from eventual reality to a theory that will never have the materials available to be tested and come to fruition.

Can anyone comment? Thanks!

[Hoplite]

Hmmm...

This has somewhat of an 'inside joke' feel to it, to my non-technical, somewhat skeptical mind.

[Aracelis]

Ping!

[Mark Felton]

Didn't the dinosaurs try to do this same thing?

;^)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

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