"Joe Delphi" wrote in message link.net...
What the heck is a "space elevator"?

In the UPI new release about Pres. Bush's bold new space initiative, it said
that the committee which layed out his new policy investigated everything
from snip to space elevators to snip, more stuff.


JD

Stand on the equator. Look up. Your friend on a satellite at GEO
tosses a rope overboard. Once it hits the ground you swarm up it like
a monkey. Or if you're not into the week long climb, attach an
elevator car which will mechanically climb for you. Not as quick as a
rocket, but not as expensive either.

You can counterbalance the cable by attaching a large mass at GEO, or
by sticking a long bit of cable out past GEO. Climbers can zip out to
the end, and by judicious aiming, be flung into interplanetary space.

That is, of course, simplyfying greatly. But you you get the idea.

some links

Liftport - raising private venture money to build one
http://www.liftport.com/

Lif****ch
http://lif****ch.org/tiki-view_articles.php

Discussion Group


ISR - Think Tank working with NASA
http://www.isr.us/SEHome.asp