Lunar Space Elevator
We've posted before about the space elevator concept — an elevator going from the surface of the Earth into orbit.
It's not possible to build one with current technology. But what about a lunar space elevator? That's an elevator that would go from the surface of the moon into lunar orbit.
Spacecraft systems engineer Charles Radley argues that "A Lunar Space Elevator [LSE] can be built today from existing commercial polymers; manufactured, launched and deployed for less than $2B."
I'm guessing that dollar amount would need to be multiplied by about 100 to be closer to the actual amount.
More info: "The Lunar Space Elevator, a Near Term Means to Reduce Cost of Lunar Access"
It's not possible to build one with current technology. But what about a lunar space elevator? That's an elevator that would go from the surface of the moon into lunar orbit.
Spacecraft systems engineer Charles Radley argues that "A Lunar Space Elevator [LSE] can be built today from existing commercial polymers; manufactured, launched and deployed for less than $2B."
I'm guessing that dollar amount would need to be multiplied by about 100 to be closer to the actual amount.
More info: "The Lunar Space Elevator, a Near Term Means to Reduce Cost of Lunar Access"
source: wikipedia
Comments
OK, but... why!?
- You first need to get to the Moon's surface. This still means getting up and out from the Earth, the very problem the space elevator was supposed to solve.
- You are now in a lunar orbit. Who wants to be there? We want to go to Mars, to the asteroid belt, to the stars! The moon is, from a space travel perspective, completely irrelevant.
- And to get to the point where you can start up the lunar space elevator, from the Earth, you have to go through the orbit you end up at anyway... why not arrange to stop there in the first place?
This is a solution looking for a problem.
- You first need to get to the Moon's surface. This still means getting up and out from the Earth, the very problem the space elevator was supposed to solve.
- You are now in a lunar orbit. Who wants to be there? We want to go to Mars, to the asteroid belt, to the stars! The moon is, from a space travel perspective, completely irrelevant.
- And to get to the point where you can start up the lunar space elevator, from the Earth, you have to go through the orbit you end up at anyway... why not arrange to stop there in the first place?
This is a solution looking for a problem.
Posted by Richard Bos on 11/16/24 at 05:29 AM
The elevator would only be practical for lifting lunar-manufactured goods or raw materials. The moon does have a MUCH smaller gravity well than earth and if lunar mining ever becomes practicable then spacecraft, stations and fuel for trips outside of earth orbit could be transported quite cheaply, once the cost of the elevator is factored out. The difficult problem of lunar landing (our probes seem to have a little bit of a problem lately) is also alleviated. Of course, since the moon has such a small gravity well it doesn't take much rocket power, or launch railgun power, to get materiel into lunar orbit or ease it into position at L1. This is a project for 100 to 200 years from now, not for the present.
Posted by Brewvet on 11/16/24 at 04:06 PM
Category: Spaceflight, Astronautics, and Astronomy