The material has no obvious use in the connection cable, but wouldn't an ultra light structural material for the orbital platform at the top of the cable greatly reduce the required tensile strength of said cable?
Meaning: What if that aircraft carrier only weighed as much as a speed boat?
Unfortunately the station at the top of a space elevator happens to represent that exception to the rule about lighter being better for space launches, most designs call for a big dumb object at the end to serve as a counterweight, so there's not any particularly special advantage to a low-density building material for the nominal terminus station, its mass is essentially determined by the cable.
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
- Albert Einstein
King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
- Albert Einstein
King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
This message last edited by Isaac on 22/11/2011 at 09:21:04 PM
New ultra-light metal invented.
- 22/11/2011 03:45:38 AM
559 Views
One discovers an already existing compound or alloy.
- 22/11/2011 03:54:24 AM
310 Views
Can a process be invented either though?
- 22/11/2011 08:30:17 AM
316 Views
Yes.
- 22/11/2011 09:03:51 AM
319 Views
By that metric, both the new process and substance are inventions.
- 22/11/2011 09:11:45 AM
307 Views
It is a big discovery
- 22/11/2011 01:28:37 PM
327 Views
Re: Space elevator application
- 22/11/2011 08:26:19 PM
345 Views
Yes and no
- 22/11/2011 09:20:12 PM
301 Views